Lee Adams, from Epsom, undertook the challenge to raise funds for the Sick Children’s Trust, following the support provided when her two-week-old son, Ari, was rushed into hospital.
Ari had been suffering from cold symptoms when his condition suddenly worsened, his breathing becoming laboured before stopping completely and leaving him purple.
Lee said: “I’d never been more scared in my life than when Ari stopped breathing.
“We honestly didn’t know if he was going to make it through the night.
“That’s why the Sick Children’s Trust was so vital – we had somewhere to stay just minutes from the ward.
“With Ari being so small, I’d never been away from him before, so that closeness made all the difference.”
Upon arrival at A&E, a triage nurse quickly took Ari to the children’s ICU, where he was placed on a CPAP machine for breathing support.
He was diagnosed with severe bronchiolitis and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
As Ari’s condition worsened, he was ventilated and required transfer to a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for specialist treatment.
With no local PICU beds available, Ari was taken by the Children’s Acute Transport Service to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, a two-hour drive away.
Lee and her husband, Scott, spent the night in temporary accommodation at the hospital before considering nearby hotels.
However, the Sick Children’s Trust offered them a room at Stevenson House, a short walk from the hospital, free of charge.
This ensured they could remain by Ari’s side throughout his six days of treatment.
Following his discharge from the Royal London Hospital, Ari spent a week back at Epsom Hospital before finally returning home.
He remained unwell for around six months after leaving hospital.
To express their gratitude for the support received, Lee raised £530 for Stevenson House by completing the Long Walk Home challenge, part of the Sick Children’s Trust’s Home to Home challenge series.
The challenge sees supporters take on cycles, swims, runs, walks and toddles across the country to raise funds for the charity and its ten ‘Homes from Home’ surrounding hospitals nationwide.
“When I saw the Home to Home challenge, I thought it was a great opportunity to get fit and raise important funds so the charity can continue supporting families when they need it.
“I’ve loved doing the challenge, and having Ari, my daughter Isla, and Scott all join me was really special.
“Without other people fundraising, we wouldn’t have been able to stay at Stevenson House – so I wanted to pay that support forward.”
Ari is now two-years-old and is described as “a happy and very cheeky little boy.”
