Please lend you support in sponsoring the boys of Carrington House in running either 10k or a Half Marathon this sunday (19th March) in support of the Edinburgh Childrens' Hospital Charity

Why the ECHC?

On the Tuesday evening of half term, Leila woke me say she was concerned about Bert, he was not settling and seemed very hot. We took his temperature and it recorded at 38 degrees plus. We called 111 and were quickly advised to get him into hospital. With Flora sleeping soundly I had to stay at home as Leila and our near 3 week old son headed off to hospital. After some initial tests, Bert was positive for Rhino enterovirus, this was quickly then identified as enteroviral meningitis. Having undertaken a Lumbar Puncture which is a terrifying thought for anyone (never mind a 3 week old baby) we then had to wait to find out if this was going to develop into Bacterial meningitis which is far more serious. After 2 and half days of waiting and Bert’s temperature spiking at 40 degrees we were finally given the good news that the test was negative and we were discharged on the Saturday lunchtime.

Not a pleasant experience at all, but what made it bearable was the amazing hospital staff from nurses to cleaners to porters, we were so well looked after. Leila staying over for 4 nights was made far more comfortable by the beds provided by the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC). It was in fact whilst I was sitting whiling away the hours in our private room, that I got to reading about the work of the ECHC and the amazing work they do to support families going through the immense hardship of seeing their children unwell