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They’re making
a big difference
By Gary Moug
SINCE we launched this appeal, we’ve got to know many of the families of the children who receive treatment at Scotland’s children’s hospitals.
 But rather than sitting back and waiting for others to raise the necessary cash to fund new equipment, what’s struck us is how many of these families are prepared to take direct responsibility for
fund-raising.
Early in the campaign, we told you about baby Josh Futter from Rutherglen who was born with a life-threatening heart condition.
He was so poorly that at one point it looked as if his parents, Nicola and David, were going to have to decide whether to turn off his life-support machine.
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 From left, David’s mum and dad Stuart
and Tricia Futter, baby Josh, David, Aiden (Josh’s 18-month-old brother) and Nicola at the charity night.
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Pulled through
But, against all odds, the little battler pulled through. He was flown to Birmingham for surgery to treat his condition — hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which leaves one side of his heart unable to function properly.
The op was a success but Josh will return south again shortly for more surgery, this time to repair a hole in his heart.
With so much going on, David and Nicola could be forgiven if raising money for charity was the last thing on their minds.
But the couple recently held a special fund-raising night to raise cash for our appeal and look set
to deliver around £1400.
Nicola said, “We organised an event in the Royale Snooker Club
in Rutherglen. It was a great night, we sold about 250 tickets at £3 per head.
“We had a raffle, with prizes including a 17-inch flat-screen TV which was donated by staff at BrightHouse, some beautiful jewellery and bottles of whisky.
“Two guys agreed to a sponsored chest wax and lots of people we don’t even know turned up to support us.
Generosity
“We were really surprised by the generosity of everyone. We’re still waiting for some of the sponsor money to come in but it looks like the final total will be about £1400.
“Josh is fabulous. He’s a brilliant baby, he constantly smiles and never cries. We’ll be back in Birmingham
soon for the next operation, but things are going really well.”
With the money raised by our campaign it’s hoped other children
who suffer hypoplastic left heart syndrome will in future be treated in Scotland, rather than face the added
complication of going to Birmingham.
When we originally told you about Josh, we outlined why he needed to be taken so far away from home.
To give babies the best possible care, a specialised scanner is needed so even the tiniest babies can be investigated at their cot-side. A
new state-of-the-art scanner would bring cutting-edge diagnostic capabilities to some
of Scotland’s sickest children.
People like David and Nicola Futter and their family and friends are helping make that level of care a reality.
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You can e-mail us at:
hospitals@sundaypost.com |
