As a team we are walking in support of our work colleague, Emma, her husband Simon and of course little Bertie, to raise money for this amazing charity who have already had a profound impact on their lives. Your donations, no matter how small, will make a real difference to the lives of families like Emma's.

Emma, Simon and Bertie's story

At our 20-week pregnancy scan, Bertie was diagnosed with oesophageal atresia, which meant that his oesophagus (food pipe) was not connected to his stomach. Emma and Simon were advised that once Bertie was born, he would be transferred down to Birmingham Children’s Hospital to receive treatment and have an operation to correct this once he was big enough. Because milk could not reach his stomach, at one day old, Bert underwent surgery to fit a tube into his stomach to feed Emma’s breast milk, with Emma and Simon rarely leaving his side.

At three weeks old, Bert became critically ill with sepsis due to further digestive complications that required surgery when he was well enough. Bert has had a total of 8 general anaesthetics and 5 blood transfusions during his 16-week stay in hospital. The procedure to connect the oesophagus to the stomach involved three major surgeries where Bert was sedated and ventilated in intensive care for 12 days.

Emma and Simon were able to be by Bert’s side throughout his 16-week stay in hospital thanks to the Ronald McDonald House, Birmingham.

‘Ronald McDonald House Birmingham’ has been an amazing support to both Simon and I during our 16-week stay. It has enabled us to be with Bert every day. We’ve been able to cook some homemade meals and rest our weary heads when sometimes the stress and noise of a neonatal surgical ward was just too much. We have been able to have friends and family come to support us and celebrate Christmas and our 40th birthday’s providing us with the lift we needed when going through the most stressful time of our lives. Simon was able to return to work knowing that Ronald McDonald was right next door to the hospital, and it was safe for me to walk back from the ward late at night. The staff have been incredible, warm and welcoming and always asked about Bertie’s progress. Ronald McDonald Charity House is a truly special place, and we need to do our bit to raise awareness to help support future families who are facing the most difficult times’.