I am absolutely thrilled (and maybe a little terrified!) to have a GOSH charity place for the London Marathon 2019. It has been twelve years since I last ran the London Marathon but I am very excited to have the chance to run it again and for a charity so close to our hearts.  We have seen first hand the excellent care and support that the hospital gives its patients and their families and it is so important to us to be able to support GOSH so that it can continue to provide world class services including groundbreaking research.

Joshua's story..

Joshua was born in October 2015 at 30 weeks plus 6 days with a large tumour on his left kidney (later diagnosed as a congenital mesoblastic nephroma). At just four days old Joshua had life saving surgery at GOSH to remove his kidney and the attached tumour, which measured 11x5x8cm. What followed was a very rocky road to recovery. About a week after surgery Joshua became very ill with an infection and they were soon treating sepsis. His one remaining kidney was also failing to work properly. At one point we were told that he might not make it through the night and so we had him baptised by the hospital's chaplain. Incredibly, Joshua pulled through and went on to make a remarkable recovery. It was a very difficult and challenging time for us but what will always remain with us is how beautifully the staff at GOSH cared for our son and how tirelessly they worked to keep our baby going. Even during Joshua's recovery, chest drains would fall out, temperatures would spike and he had many blood transfusions, but at seven weeks after two previous failed attempts, Joshua successfully weaned off the ventilator. Joshua spent just over eight weeks on the NICU ward at GOSH and after two more weeks at local hospitals Joshua finally came home on Christmas Eve. 

Joshua quickly settled into family life but during a routine check up at GOSH a few months later in March 2016 we discovered that the tumour had returned. It was still benign, but again fast growing and it explained the wheeziness and difficulty we were experiencing with feeding. GOSH held our hand through all the tests and consultations and provided incredible support. Joshua received chemotherapy for almost seven months. Joshua was initially put on a lower dose chemotherapy regime but unfortunately the tumour continued to grow. Joshua was therefore prescribed a more aggressive chemotherapy regime and after only two rounds nothing could be seen remaining of the tumour!   Joshua was given four more rounds of chemotherapy and treatment was concluded with two weeks of radiotherapy in December 2016.

Joshua is now almost two years post treatment and in many ways he is doing brilliantly. More recently we discovered that he has Fanconi syndrome –a common side effect of one of the chemotherapy drugs that Joshua received. It's a kidney condition where the tubules in his remaining kidney are not reabsorbing the phosphate and sodium and as a result he also has rickets. GOSH, as always, have put him in expert hands and he is already looking stronger and putting on weight. Despite all this Joshua is a very happy and loving child. He has mild cerebral palsy which affects his lower limbs but he is a determined chap and doesn’t let much get in his way. He is completely obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine, loves to read books and adores his big brother Freddie. We are incredibly grateful to GOSH for everything they have done for Joshua and for their on going support. 

Every day brings new challenges at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).Every day, 618 children and young people from across the UK arrive. Every day, doctors and nurses battle the most complex illnesses, and the brightest minds come together to achieve pioneering medical breakthroughs. And every day is a chance for you to make a difference.This extraordinary hospital has always depended on charitable support to give seriously ill children the best chance to fulfil their potential. A better future for seriously ill children STARTS HERE.