Please keep giving to GOSH to help a child like ours

The doctors and nurses at GOSH have been wonderful

Since our son James was discharged in December last year, he has enjoyed being at home and has managed to stay out of hospital. He still attends for on-going outpatient appointments for treatment of Graft-versus-host disease – a fairly common occurrence after a bone marrow transplant. James has to remain immune-suppressed so is living in semi-isolation, but he is able to have home schooling, occasionally see a friend and perhaps most importantly for him, fight with his sisters, cuddle his cats, and hit lots and lots of golf balls!

The doctors and nurses at GOSH have been wonderful, especially Austen Worth, the consultant who has guided us every step of the way, the immunology and BMT teams, and the nurses in intensive care and Robin ward. They have shown exceptional care and commitment in getting James well while engaging with him as a six-year-old boy who loves a laugh and a joke. James misses so much about GOSH. I am so happy that he has such positive memories from his long hospital stay.

Our charity-funded parent accommodation meant we could still have valuable family time while James was in hospital and I have nothing but praise for my loved ones. My patient, kind and thoughtful husband, Tony, and my beautiful courageous daughters, Ellie and Caitlin, have shown such strength of character and have turned a life-changing event on its head to draw out the positives.

My heartfelt thanks go to readers for their donations and to this newspaper for this hugely successful awareness-raising appeal and for sharing the inspirational stories from the children at GOSH.

Finally to my amazing son James for your enduring toughness and bravery. Even in the darkest days in intensive care, you found the strength to squeeze my hand. Those gentle but knowing squeezes told me, “Hey Mummy, I’m here, I’m fighting.” Keep fighting, James.

This appeal may be over, but we must keep donating to GOSH.

There are so many people out there whose lives are positively impacted by the work of this special hospital, including my son, so please keep giving.

To Give to GOSH go to: http://ind.pn/1Mydxqt

To find out more about our appeal and why we're supporting GOSH go to: http://ind.pn/1MycZkr

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