On 21st of September 2024 a group of Alfies family and friends will complete the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge. The Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge is a circular walk which encompasses three major peaks in the Yorkshire Dales. Pen-Y-Ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough, the best-known hills in the area, a tough challenge with over 1600m of ascent, 39.2km in distance, all to be accomplished within 12hrs!

Alfie's Story:

Alfie was sent home from school on 29th April 2024 with stomach bug like symptoms, on 1st May 2024 he collapsed at home and an ambulance was called. He was resuscitated at home by first responders and paramedics before being rushed to Whiston Hospital, after some tests and when he was stable enough he was transferred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

Following lots of tests and scans, it was found he was suffering from Necrotic Pancreatitis and was quite seriously ill. This condition is commonly seen in adults suffering alcoholism or kidney stones/gallstones but it is extremely rare in children, especially with no other underlying health issues. Due to the rarity of Alfie's condition, the Alder Hey team were working very closely with the pancreas specialists at The Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

Over the next few weeks, Alfie was under the care of the ICU with 24/7 monitoring due to needing dialysis for his kidneys and a constant stream of antibiotics and pain medication. He was sedated for the first week or so before they began to lift the sedation, at points it seemed he was getting better as he was then awake and communicating with us, being his usual self (albeit in a lot of pain and discomfort). At this point we were hopeful he would continue to get better and eventually be well enough to be moved off the ICU and onto a ward. Throughout this time, the nurses were nothing but outstanding, the care and compassion they showed to us was second to none. Even whilst Alfie was sedated, the nurses talked him through every procedure to make sure he wasn't scared. They also made sure to explain everything to us in language we could understand (none of that doctor talk that only someone with a PHD can understand).

Alfie fought as hard as he could for 3 long weeks but unfortunately in the early hours of 21st May 2024 Alfie's condition worsened and he had to have emergency surgery to remove as much of the necrotic pancreas as they could. He made it through surgery but the surgeons and nurses were clear that he was not out of the woods and the next 24 hours were critical. At around midday just a few hours after his surgery, Alfie couldn't fight anymore and at just 14 years old he sadly lost his battle. He was surrounded by his family, he was comfortable and not in any pain.

Throughout his stay, the whole team at Alder Hey showed nothing but love, care and compassion for not only Alfie but the family as well. Every single member of staff, from the nurses to the doctors & surgeons and everyone in between, they are all so hardworking and they truly care, they do not get the credit that they deserve. Even after Alfie had passed, their bereavement team in the Snow Drop Suite guided us through everything and showed so much compassion, even now weeks later they are keeping in touch and making sure we have everything we need. As a family, we would have been so lost without them.

We hope this raises awareness for not only Alfie's condition, but also highlights the amazing hard work the staff at Alder Hey do on a day to day basis.

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