One minute it was routine surgery.

The next, my dad was fighting for his life.

In April 2026, I’m running the Paris Marathon for Anaphylaxis UK because my family experienced just how terrifying and life-threatening anaphylaxis can be.

My dad, a.k.a Papa Pat, went in for what should have been a straightforward procedure just days before Christmas Eve which in our family, is sacred! It’s our annual daddy–daughter shopping trip for my mum (his wife). In true dad fashion, this would have been approximately the 16th year she received a winter coat; always stylish, always carefully chosen, and somehow always a surprise (or so mum pretends!).

Instead, he went in for routine surgery and was injected with a medication he was allergic to and suffered a catastrophic anaphylactic reaction. Within moments, he went into respiratory arrest. What should have been a routine day surgery and an evening of last minute Christmas shopping became a fight to save his life. He was placed in an induced coma, put on a ventilator, and admitted to intensive care.

I work for the NHS, so hospitals are familiar places to me. But over the Christmas bank holidays, I wasn’t a healthcare professional, I was simply a daughter, sitting beside my critically ill father, watching his ventilator, helping care for him while he lay unconscious. We were warned that ‘if’ (the most stressful ‘if’ of our life) he woke up, he would likely have severe brain damage.

But against all odds, he survived!

Partly because he’s unbelievably tough (he’d say “tough as an ox”), partly because of extraordinary medical care and because my mum still deserves her annual winter coat and importantly because our family needs him and I couldn’t live without my papa!

When he was brought out of his coma, I walked up to him and prayed and every finger and toe crossed that he would remember who I was. The best moment of my life so far is when he smiled at me and said ‘Hello Katherine’. I helped him take his first steps. Watching him recover, day by day, felt nothing short of miraculous. Today he has made a full recovery, but life looks different. He now wears a medical alert band every day and lives with the constant reality of managing a life-threatening allergy.

This experience changed our family forever. We learned how sudden and misunderstood anaphylaxis can be, how quickly it happens, how serious it is, and how recognising the signs and acting fast can save lives. If it wasn’t for the medical crash bell and several anaesthetists and doctors running to save his life he wouldn’t be here today. And he wouldn’t be the medical miracle that he is with a healthy brain.

That’s why I’m running.

A marathon will be painful (especially for someone whose main sporting talent is usually watching the marathon from the sofa or finish line), but it feels like a small challenge compared to what my dad went through and what so many people face every day living with severe allergies.

Some helpful information about anaphylaxis:

Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction that can happen quickly after exposure to a trigger such as certain medications, foods or insect stings. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, a rapid drop in blood pressure, dizziness, or collapse. It is a medical emergency! If you suspect anaphylaxis:

• Call emergency services immediately (or make sure someone has already done so).

• Use an adrenaline (EpiPen) auto-injector if one is available.

• Help them lie down flat with their legs raised to support blood flow—unless they’re struggling to breathe, in which case they can sit slightly upright.

• Keep them still and calm—sudden movement can make symptoms worse.

• Loosen tight clothing and keep their airway clear.

• Watch their breathing and responsiveness closely.

• Give a second EpiPen if symptoms don’t improve after several minutes (if one is available, instructions are written on the EpiPen).

• If they become unresponsive and not breathing normally, start CPR until help arrives.

Quick action and you knowing this can save a life!

How your support helps:

• Helps raise awareness and educate people to recognise the signs of a severe allergic reaction.

• Provides vital information and support to families living with life-threatening allergies.

• Helps fund research and campaigns that improve understanding and prevention of anaphylaxis.

• Any donation big or small helps save lives.

Thank you for being part of this journey 💛

See you at the finish line Papa!