Mum’s sky high thank you to Birmingham Children’s Hospital
A grateful mum who took her fundraising to new heights by completing an adrenaline-filled skydive has now raised over £2,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, as thanks for the life-saving and life-changing care her two-year old daughter received after she was born with a gap in her spine.
Twenty-eight-year-old Lauren Rickhuss, from Walsall, took the plunge with her best friend Jennifer in June this year, to mark the third anniversary of the day she received the news that her daughter, Ellarae, would be born with severe Spina Bifida, during her 20-week scan.
The condition meant Lauren’s baby’s spine hadn’t developed properly, her prognosis was poor, and Lauren was faced with the unthinkable decision of whether to continue with her pregnancy. Lauren could feel Ellarae’s kicks inside her and she knew she had to give her a chance at life, so she prepared herself for what would come next, meeting with surgeons at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
As soon as Ellarae was born, she was transferred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where Consultant Neurosurgeon, Mr Solanki, performed a 13-hour operation to close the gap in her spine. It was an agonising wait for Lauren but eventually she was reunited with Ellarae on the hospital’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, before being transferred to another ward to complete her recovery.
After what felt like an eternity, at a little over a month old, Ellarae was discharged, and Lauren was able to take her home for the very first time. A few months later, Ellarae returned to Birmingham Children’s Hospital where she underwent a second operation, this time to insert a shunt in her brain, to relieve pressure caused by Hydrocephalus – a condition commonly associated with Spina Bifida and causes a build-up of excess fluid in the brain.
With both operations successfully out of the way and Ellarae home for good, she began to thrive. Although Ellarae’s development is delayed and her mobility is limited, she has reached more milestones than Lauren was led to believe she ever would.
A year later and still brimming with endless gratitude for the care Ellarae received at the hospital, and the compassion of the staff, particularly nurse Venesia on the Neonatal Surgical Ward, Lauren organised her first fundraiser – a charity night – to say thank you.
With the help of her friend Vicki, and mum and stepdad Janet and Simon, Lauren secured a venue, a DJ friend to provide a disco, food and a raffle and other activities which helped to raise over £700 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity. This year, Lauren set her sights even higher, and booked herself and Ellarae’s Godmother, Jennifer, onto a skydive which took her overall fundraising total to over £2,000.
Lauren said: “We owe everything to Birmingham Children’s Hospital and we could say thank you a million times but it would never feel like enough for the care and support we both received. That’s why I’ve chosen to fundraise every year to make sure Ellarae knows her story and give back to the heroes who made sure she could be here today.
“I’m so proud of how much I’ve managed to raise with the support of my friends and family, though I don’t think I’ll ever take on another skydive! It was probably the scariest thing I’ve ever done in my life but it was worth it for Ellarae, even if she did fall asleep while she was supposed to be watching!”
Annie Eytle, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “Lauren faced every new parent’s nightmare but we’re so glad to hear that after a scary start to life, Ellarae is thriving. By fundraising for us in Ellarae’s name, Lauren is turning a scary experience into an incredible contribution to help us do more for other sick kids, just like Ellarae.”
If you’ve been inspired and would like to fundraise for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, or donate, please visit bch.org.uk or call 0121 333 8506.
