I’ll be running Manchester marathon next year for Kidney Care UK, a patient support charity who also campaign to improve kidney health & care services throughout the UK.

My goal is a sub 4 hour which I know is going to be really really hard for me to do, but I’m making myself accountable here in this safe space.

Anything anyone could donate, large or small please do and I’ll be updating about my why over the next couple of months.

Thank you xxx

MY WHY

As I gear up for a freezing couple of weeks of training I wanted to tell you all why I’m running for kidney care uk & trying to reach my goal of a sub 4 hour at Manchester marathon in April.

At our 20 week scan with Jaxson they caught that one of his kidneys was slightly enlarged, referred us for further scans and put me under the Leicester medical team. He was diagnosed with prenatal hydronephrosis, which we were told is super common, more so in boys and will sort itself out by my 3rd trimester - Alas it didn’t, it got worse and I was induced at 38 weeks to get him out as once his born he’ll do a “big wee” and it’ll sort itself out. It didn’t, he was put on antibiotics (which is still on to this day) from birth and at 2 weeks old he had his first ultrasound on his kidney where we were told it was on the severe level and he needed further testing. At 8 months old he had a DMSA scan where they inject you with radioactive fluid to determine your kidney function, which showed his left kidney wasn’t draining properly and needed further testing. At 11 months old he had a MAG3 renogram, where a catheter is fitted and fluid is sent back into your body to determine if there was a blockage in his urinary track system. At 16 months old he had another ultrasound which confirmed what the other 2 invasive tests pointed to that he had a blockage near his kidney and the only way to fix this is surgery. We are still awaiting a date for his pyeloplasty surgery but I’m hoping it’ll be in the next couple of months

After the surgery more tests will be done to confirm his kidney function & how badly the tissue is damaged.

It’s been 18 months (22 inc being pregnant) of worry, appointments, scans, tears and naivety to be honest with you.

BUT our son will be ok, no it isn’t life threatening, yes he will be able to have a normal life, but still it’s a been a journey and no parent should have to watch their baby go though surgery, watch them in this big ol machines or hold them down at scans whilst they’re scream crying at you not understanding what’s going on and why in that moment you can’t cuddle them whilst they’re in pain.

I’m dragging myself out and completing this training whatever the weather for our little boy, to raise money for an incredible charity, for kidney research & care, because without this we wouldn’t be where we are today.

I know January is a shitter of a month but anything you can spare would be appreciated as we only have 103 days to go ♥️