Hi, my name is Sam and I have a 9 year old daughter. Back in 2017 when she was 16 months old we spent 6 months on the children’s ward with Caitlyn being very poorly. On Christmas Eve 2017 we were given the news that Caitlyn had Adrenal Insufficiency. We’d never heard of this before and so a lot of research had to be done. Caitlyn has overcome more obstacle's in her short life than most adults do in a life time. The only thing that holds her back is the lack of knowledge that most people hold of her condition. That’s where I come in… I am climbing snowdon in a bid to raise funds to buy informative materials to put up in doctors surgeries around our area and then the hospitals and then even bigger. I feel it’s so important for people to have an understanding of Caitlyn’s condition as this literally can be life saving!!

For context, Adrenal insufficiency is a condition where the adrenal glands do not produce enough of certain essential hormones, primarily cortisol and sometimes aldosterone. Cortisol helps the body respond to stress, maintain blood pressure, and regulate metabolism. Aldosterone helps balance salt and water levels.

There are two main types:

Primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease): Caused by damage to the adrenal glands themselves.

Secondary adrenal insufficiency: Caused by problems with the pituitary gland, which normally signals the adrenal glands to produce hormones.

Symptoms can include fatigue, weight loss, low blood pressure, abdominal pain, and darkening of the skin (in primary). Treatment usually involves hormone replacement therapy.