A mum and dad have got tattoos of feeding tubes on their stomachs to support their young son and daughter, who both have the real thing.
Rebecca and Tom Golding, from south-east London, have a four-year-old daughter, Izzy, and a two year old son, Will.
Izzy had to undergo emergency surgery at Evelina London aged just two days, after being born with her food pipe connecting to her airway rather than her stomach.
Rebecca said of her daughter: “We didn’t know it at the time, but milk and saliva was going straight to her lungs, which meant she was basically drowning.
“She was admitted to hospital sixteen times in her first year and even now can only eat what you would give to an eight-month-old, like purees and some fruits. She can’t swallow fluid and she can’t eat sandwiches, chicken nuggets or ice cream – the things that other four year olds like.”
When Will was born in October 2019, the couple knew something was seriously wrong, because he kept on vomiting and had difficulty breathing. Doctors diagnosed Will with sepsis and he also had emergency treatment at Evelina at two days old.
Will has a condition that means when he swallows, part of the larynx blocks his airways. He cannot swallow liquids because it could give him chest infections.
Rebecca, an NHS administrator, said: “We took a massive psychological hit when he too had to be transferred to Evelina London. He stopped breathing twice and had to be resuscitated – it was a really frightening time. Will spent three months in the hospital, where multiple tests were carried out which revealed that he too had a problem with his swallow.”
Both Izzy and Will were given button gastronomies – small feeding tubes that go directly into their stomachs so that they can get fluids without swallowing.
Rebecca said: “They both have a button gastrostomy so Tom and I decided to get matching tattoos. We wanted to symbolise what we have been through as a family and show Izzy and Will that having a button is something to be proud of. Izzy is obsessed with the tattoos, always asking to see them and saying ‘now we are all matching’, and Will has expressed his disappointment that ours don’t move!”
Tom, a PE teacher, recently did a 400km bike ride across the Scottish Highlands to raise money for Evelina’s children’s charity, along with five other cyclists.
Tom said: “I did the ride for three reasons. Firstly to raise awareness of Evelina London Children’s Hospital and what they do – they are unsung heroes who save lives every day. Secondly, to raise as much money as possible for this incredible hospital so that those who work there can continue to carry out amazing treatment for children who need it most.
“Finally, I wanted to put myself through these tough challenges in order to thank Evelina London for saving my children’s lives – they will never know how grateful I am.”
To support Tom’s cycle challenge, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/highlandcycle2022