So I have been accepted to run the London Marathon next year! I have choose to run for Shine again as you all know this is a charity very close to my families heart. They have continued to help and support us through our journey! I want to try and give back as much as I can so they can continue to help other families in the same situation as us!

So back in October 2021 we went to our 20 weeks scan thinking it was just the gender scan and excited to find out if we were going to have a little boy or girl.

We didn't actually know how important this scan actually was. We got told we were having a little girl and that there was a possibility she had Spina Bifida.

After this we had the next few days of appointments to confirm that she in fact did have the condition. We next went to Addenbrookes and they also confirmed results and referred us to UCLH to see a specialist. In this appointment with the specialist they told us about a surgery they would perform whilst she is still in the womb. After out weighing the pros and the cons we decided it was going to give her the best chance in life to go ahead with the surgery.

So at 24 weeks we went back down to London for the operation and spent a week there afterwards so they could keep an eye on us both. We then had to go to weekly appointments to check everything was going okay with her and me. The hospital booked the c-section in for 37weeks but little Miss Isla didn't want to wait anymore and she came at 34 weeks (22/1/22) and we got taken down to UCLH for her brith so they had the right care for her as she was fairly early and had the operation 10 weeks beforehand. We had the c-section, she was 4lbs 9oz.

Other than being 6 weeks early and having a wound on her back was rather healthy. We spent 2 weeks at UCLH and another week at GOSH. When Isla was about 4 months old we had a hospital stay at GOSH as Isla needed a VP shunt fitted to help her Hydrocephalus which has been working perfectly ever since!

In recent times Isla has been thriving and proving everyone wrong. She’s currently on her 2nd wheelchair and can wheel herself around by herself, which has been great to give her some independence.

We couldn't have asked either hospitals to do anymore for us, the care they both provided was brilliant. The aftercare we have also received from the local hospital and the health visitors has also been brilliant. Isla is doing really well and we wouldn't / couldn't have aot to where we are without Shine's support.

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.

Everything we do is made possible by our generous supporters. Your fundraising efforts help individuals and families in your local communities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Every donation has the potential for profound impact.

THANK YOU for supporting Shine!