In June 2023 my amazing husband took on the 3 peaks challenge to raise money for charity. Unfortunately he was taken poorly after the first climb and was admitted to hospital in Cumbria where he became increasly worse. He was put into an induced coma and after many tests they still did not know what was wrong with him but he was getting worse. He was moved to a hospital in Newcastle 2 days later but tragically he never woke up and he passed way on 27th June. Leaving behind 3 beautiful children and myself.

He was only 43 years old, fit and healthy, so it did not make any sense as to why he was no longer with us.

We were contacted by Newcastle hospital afterwards to ask if they could do genentic testing on Andy to see if they could get us some answers.

In November 2023 we were told Andy had an undiagonosed condition called OTC, which later it was conculded was the cause of death brought on due to the exhaution of doing the climb.

We also found out that had an Ammonia test been carried out, which is a simple test that only takes 3 hours to get results from Andy would most likely still be here today.

Because this is an X-Linked gentic condition it means that our 6 year old daughter also now has OTC, along with one of Andy's brothers and his daughter.

Losing Andy has turned our lives upside down, and I can't begin to expalin the pain and hole this has left us with.

He was the most amazing Husband and Father, and just the nicest, cleverest and good humoured man you could meet.

We did everything as a family and now our unit is broken. We are lost without him, he was mine & the kids world!

We are completing this challenge in his memory but to also raise awareness of OTC and to make hospitals THINK AMMONIA when all other tests are coming back with no answers.

So if you or a family member is ever taken ill and all blood tests are coming back clear ensure they test Ammonia levels, it could just save a life!

Thank you for your donation - no matter how big or small.