My daughter is a miracle, her surgeon's words.

We tried for a child for nearly 10 years, almost giving up hope. Then, a miracle happened.

My wife was with child. Yet, Eleanor was unique. Her anatomy was unique, even in her case among many others.

It meant we would face many years of surgery with her.

Life saving surgery required from the moment she was born. This was 2019. By the time she was 3 months old she had undergone 4 corrective surgeries to fix holes in her heart, close off excess valves to the heart, redesign her aorta and attempt to fix problems with her airways.

All were successful, but at significant financial cost. I was self-employed at this time. Credit card bills, time off work with no pay, borrowing from friends and family just to allow me to be there with them at the worst time. A time any parent would do whatever they could to hold their loved ones close.

I have seen many parents lose their children, even during Covid. Eleanor managed to survive that plague. Many did not. Many were unable to be there for their children as they lay in ICU unable to breathe, unable to hold their hand.

I would have been one of them, I feared.

Fate smiled upon us that dark time for many others. She pulled through, remarkably walking out of ICU, to the shock of all medical staff present.

Yet, this was at a hospital close to our home.

This time is different. The surgery, to correct intervention that saved her life before, now means to reverse complications incurred by those procedures years before.

The surgery is more extreme. More risky, and now is based in London. Several hundred miles away from home.

I have some time to spend there with them, but am forced to return home, to return to work. To be somewhere at a time when my family need me most. Both as a result of financial hardship and employment requirements.

I understand real life, but my heart yearns to be there for them.

Yet, even though we know what surgery she is due to have, she may need many more. Her future is uncertain.

She may be there for the long haul

It will be near impossible for me to get there, and maintain a home for them to return to, if this be the case. Facetime only goes so far.

This is the basis of this crowdfunding appeal. It is to help me to make those journeys. To hold my loved ones close, to be the rock amidst the sea of uncertainty. To be the lighthouse in the darkness of the unknown tomorrow.

Please help us bring Eleanor the care and support she deserves.

Please help us to support our miracle in her time of need.