Welcome to my page and thank you for reading and looking, my names Helen Durnford and I am 31 yrs old and for the first time I am running for the great south run 2024, I am running to raise money for shine charity this is close to my heart due to back in 2017, I went for a private scan to find out the gender of my first baby, within the scan the lady advise there are some irregular things on the scan and that I need to contact the hospital ASAP, and so left very worried and deflated as you go into any pregnancy bit niave especially my first thinking everything is okay, but I soon got harsh reality back to life, the scanner gave me no clue what is was and wasn't allowed to tell me as wasn't qualified, with that I made a nervous call to the hospital to find out what was wrong with my baby at this point I was 17 weeks, the appointment came round and of course I was the most nervous I think I've ever been, and upon having my scan and speaking with the consultant Lillie was confirmed to have spina bfida and stage 3 brain damage and complication, my heart broke my little girl was poorly, and then had the decision on my hands by myself to think what was best for my little girl my tiny little girl, so I had until 20 weeks to make the heart braking decision and talking to alot of doctors about her condition and what best to do for her, as she was my main priority, the spina bifida diagnosed wasn't my concern it was stage 3 brain complications and unfortunately she would have to be put through alot of surgery's for the rest of her life, my heart broke every second and tears would stream down by face having ti make this decision, but I pulled strong and came to the decision that I let my daughter Lillie go as it was the best for her, so at 20 weeks I was induced, the one question that I will never forget is the nurses asking if she makes it through what would you like to do, at that point through it all I was speechless and my mum had to say we will deal and take step at a time unfortunately the stress of the birth was too much for my Lillie and so on 11.08.2017 my baby girl was born and I could cuddle her and be in my arms.

I am doing the great southrun in memory of my baby girl to make her proud and to know I am forever thinking of her and missing her every day and her cousin Florence ware.

Shine provides specialist support from before birth and throughout the life of anyone living with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus, as well as to parents, families, carers and professional care staff. Shine enables people to get the best out of life.

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