Friends of PICU

Hi, my name is Alan and I'm fundraising money for a charity called Friends of PICU by doing the Southampton half marathon on April 7th 2024.

Here's my story:

Our new born daughter Ella Grace Mckellar-Tomkins was born on 7th of July this year. On the 13th July just 6 days old, Ella was rushed to Royal Berks hospital in Reading where she had the crash team called straight away in A&E to resuscitated her. We asked the doctors if she was going to be OK but no one could give us an answer, she was put on a high intensity ward that night which unfortunately took a worse turn with her heart rate reaching nearly 200 beats per minute and her oxygen levels dropping at 65% we know she needed more help. The crash team were called once again to resuscitated her and she was put in an induced coma, the consultant had to deliver the bad news that her organs were damaged: liver, kidneys, intenstines, stomach, legs and possible brain damage. We were heart broken but we knew we needed the special team at Southampton hospital so a retrieval team from Oxford hospital came and blue lighted her to Southampton.

I still remember this day as it was pouring with rain and I had to drive to Southampton hospital as my wife and 3 special consultants were in the ambulance. I arrived 45 mins before the ambulance came as Ella was not stable, thinking the worse.

We got rushed into PICU were we greeted with the top consultants. Ella was in a very bad way and we didn't know whether she was going to make it.

In PICU Ella got 1 to 1 care 24hrs with high tech equipment, it was horrible to see that there were so many wires coming out of her with so much medicine going into her. Myself and my wife Natalie got so much care and support by the charity friends of PICU, we got put up in Ronald Mcdonald house as we knew we would be a long time at Southampton hospital.

Ella was diagnosed with coarctation of the aorta alongside hypoplasic arch and multiple VSD'S

The consultants and surgeons sat down with us drawing pictures to explain what was wrong and how they are going to help her. The only way was open heart surgery but her other organs needed to repair and she needed to get stronger before surgery.

Surgery day came and it was the longest day of our lives but she came out as a fighter.

She grew stronger and stronger but having a few set backs which we were told may happen after undergoing such a big operation.

The nurses, Consultants, surgeons cared for Ella so much we cannot thank them enough.

We have a 2nd procedure coming up in November to remove a band that was installed in her heart.

I'm raising money to support PICU and Friends of PICU to give back our appreciation. If you can donate a little money this will support the machines that Ella and other children need, the care from all the staff in PICU.

Thanks for having the time to read my story and thanks for supporting our little heart Warrior Ella Grace Mckellar-Tomkins.

Update 20th March: Ella had her 2nd procedure in November which was to remove the band and balloon her arch of the aorta as its narrow. The band removing went well but unfortunately they found an annerisym on her aorta where the repair work was done so couldn't perform the balloning Ella is now having ct scans to monitor this.

Not long now till the southampton half marathon less than 3 weeks thankyou to everyone that has donated.