Parents of one-year-old daughter Mia Rogers have been fundraising for Evelina London Children’s Hospital as a thank you to staff, who saved their daughter’s life, writes Jack Friend….
Baby Mia from Medway in Kent spent seven days on a ventilator in intensive care after a rare birthmark was found to be blocking her airway. She was diagnosed with a rare birthmark condition known as subglottic haemangioma.
The infant was immediately put on treatment to shrink the birthmark and sent home after thirteen days. However, her condition deteriorated and doctors discovered that the she was not responding to treatment.
She underwent further surgery in August last year to remove a large amount of the haemangioma with the one-year-old making a full recovery and was released eleven days later. Mia’s father Jon and mum Sophie have both been warned that the haemangioma could still return.
Sophie said: “The operation was about three and a half hours. The wait was excruciating but the procedure was successful and after a few more days in hospital, we were able to take Mia home.”
Jon, 34, ran 34 miles from Medway Hospital to Evelina London Children’s Hospital on the May 8, raising over £5,000 in the process. Rogers was also accompanied by Sophie Collins, 32, at certain stages of the run.
Both parents wanted to do something as a show of gratitude towards staff at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Sophie said: “The second that the Evelina London team saw Mia, we knew we were in safe hands. They gave me so much support and care at a time when I needed it most. Without them, Mia could have died.”
Jon completed the thirty-four mile run in a time of six-hours-and-five-minutes with Mia’s mother Sophie joining him for the first and last five miles as well as being joined by their Mia herself as they crossed the finish line.
Jon said: “The run was tough both physically and mentally, however the motivation from friends and family on the day was incredible, all I needed to do was put one foot in front of the other. I can’t thank Evelina London enough for everything they have done for us.”