Hi, I’m Caroline, and my partner Joe and I are raising money and awareness for St Mark’s Hospital, a place that has saved thousands of lives – including my dad’s.

Our Story – A Life-Changing Journey

2.5 years ago, my dad was living a healthy, active life. He didn’t drink or smoke and loved walking our dog, Yogi. Then, everything changed.

On the day of the Queen’s funeral, I got multiple missed calls from my brother. Confused and anxious, I rang back to hear the news – our dad was being rushed to A&E with excruciating stomach pain. After hours of tests, the doctors found a blood clot in his intestine. They faced a critical decision: attempt surgery or wait. They opted to wait.

That night, I called my dad one last time before bed. He sounded weak. Neither of us knew how close we were to losing him.

A Nightmare Unfolds

By morning, everything had spiraled. My dad had been rushed into emergency surgery, where doctors discovered the clot had killed a large portion of his intestine. They removed the dead tissue but weren’t sure if the remaining intestine would survive. The next few days were critical.

We were told to prepare for the worst. His condition deteriorated rapidly, and consultants warned us he wouldn’t make it through the night. I remember being sat in the hospital waiting room, staring at my phone, wishing for just one more message from him.

Hours later, the surgeons made a desperate decision – a second operation. We were told that if his remaining intestine was beyond saving, we’d have to say our goodbyes.

After a deeply tough few hours, at 4 AM, the phone rang. Against all odds, he had survived. They kept him in a coma and on life support in intensive care until they could operate on him a third time and fit him with a stoma. But his battle was just beginning.

Life with Short Bowel Syndrome

With such a tiny portion of intestine left, my dad developed Short Bowel Syndrome, meaning he couldn’t absorb food or water. He was mostly nil by mouth for 2.5 years, surviving only through Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), an IV feeding system (through the arm or chest) that required constant monitoring. His life became hospital rooms, endless tests, and a few moments of near-death.

Below is a picture from dad's 70th birthday. He was in hospital, but we made special arrangements to take him out for a few hours. He was not allowed to eat food or drink, other a few mouthfuls of jelly (for oral simulation). So, we made a giant 'jelly cake' for the family share with him on his special day.

One year ago, after yet another emergency hospitalisation, my mum managed to get a NHS referral to St Mark’s Hospital – one of the world’s leading centers for complex bowel diseases. That call changed everything.

The Miracle of St Mark’s

Unlike other hospitals - who struggled to find a solution, St Mark’s didn’t give up. They looked at my dad’s condition differently, treating him as a person, not just a patient. Through groundbreaking research and innovative treatments, they found a way for him to eat and drink again.

For the first time in years, I sat with my dad and had a simple coffee together. That moment felt like a miracle - I took a picture because I didnt want to forget the moment.

But St Mark’s didn’t stop there. They put him on a trial case study, prepared him for a high-risk operation, and on 31st December 2024, they did what we thought was impossible – they reconnected his intestine. On New Year’s Eve, my dad had life-changing surgery, removing his stoma and allowing him to eat, drink, and live without a feeding tube.

Today, he is now home and recovering, he is fairly independent, and no longer dependent on nurses or IV nutrition. This would have been unthinkable just a year ago.

Why We’re Running for St Mark’s

St Mark’s is an NHS hospital, and with the support of donations and funding they can continue groundbreaking work. They don’t just treat patients – they give hope where others see none.

To say thank you and help them continue saving lives, we are running The Rame Head Race Half Marathon, our first ever half marathon and a trail course (very hilly and very hard), to raise funds for their foundation.

Every donation will go directly towards research, innovative treatments, and patient care – ensuring that others, like my dad, get a better quality of life.

How You Can Help

Your support can make a real difference. Every donation, big or small, will help St Mark’s continue their life-saving work.

👉 Please donate what you can

👉 Share our story to raise awareness

Thank you for reading, for supporting, and for helping us give back to the hospital that gave us our dad (and us) a better quality of life ❤️