Our funny, sweet, inquisitive little boy - Finn - has spent the last couple of months undergoing tests for a rare & life changing metabolic disorder. After being admitted to York Hospital last week, we’ve now been transferred to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital for him to receive the specialist care he needs - 70 miles from our home. It’s a situation we never imagined we’d be in.

Amidst all the heartache and sleepless nights, there are also many logistical challenges which come with living in a hospital in a different part of the country with your poorly baby. We’d considered the ones which would impact our twins first & foremost, but hadn’t thought about some of the most basic necessities - like how we would even eat when the hospital is unable to provide food to parents of children on the ward.

When your child is on a hospital ward, leaving them to find food isn’t always possible, or doesn’t feel like a priority. Many parents are here on their own for days at a time. Most won’t eat if it means risking missing a crucial doctors round, or you forget about yourself completely because you’re so worried about your little one.

This was us last Friday evening - depleted and melting away inside a hospital in a heatwave - until a smiling face peered round the blue bay curtain and handed us a bag full of food to fuel us through the difficult weekend ahead. It was a little moment of light which made a huge difference - and that’s why we’re choosing to raise money for Emmie’s Kitchen 💕

They provide meal bags to parents staying with their children at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, quietly caring for the people who are trying their very best to be strong for their babies.

We’re hoping to raise £240 for Emmie’s Kitchen by handing out ‘Moments of Light’ cards to people whose kindness makes a difference during our stay here and beyond - there have already been more of these moments than we can count, so we look forward to shifting some of our focus towards the light with the help of our joyful Finn & Theo 🥰✨

If you’d like to support us, a donation to Emmie’s Kitchen will help them continue supporting families like ours during some of the hardest days of their lives. It costs £6 per meal bag, so we’re hoping to help at least 40 families 🍎🍰🥪🍽️

We don’t know yet exactly how much longer we’ll be here (we’re currently staying at Ronald McDonald House - another incredible charity and we’ll be donating through our McDonald’s orders forever more!) There’s a lot to learn and we’re going to need to adjust to a new normal once we’re home, but there’s nothing we won’t do to help Finley thrive ✨

Thank you ❤️