Fundraising: Andy is Running from Chandler's Ford to Naomi House and Jacksplace

Andy Wells will be running from Chandler’s Ford to Naomi House and Jacksplace on Saturday, the 3rd of June, 2017.

Andy is raising money for the charity in his son Ethan’s name.

Naomi House & Jacksplace – Children’s Hospice provides expert hospice care to more than 340 life-limited and life-threatened children, young people and their extended families from Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Berkshire, West Sussex, Surrey and the Isle of Wight.

To donate, please visit this JustGiving page: Andy Wells is fundraising for Naomi House Children’s Hospice (Wessex Children’s Hospice Trust).

I am running from Chandler’s Ford to @naomiandjack on the 3rd of June. Please visit my page and have a read. Thanks. https://t.co/lcfUCpj38F

— Andy Wells (@a_wells1) April 5, 2017

Andy has agreed to share his story with us here:

“In 2016 I ran the Great South run for Naomi House. I have decided to keep doing events and to continue raising money for the charity in Ethan’s name.

The next one I’ve decided to do is running from Chandler’s Ford, through Winchester and finishing at Naomi House, which is in Sutton Scotney, a distance of around 13 miles.

I will be doing this on Saturday the 3rd of June and if you fancy joining me, or know anyone who would, then please let me know.

For those of you who don’t know, below is a little bit about Ethan.

As some of you will know in July 2014 my youngest son, Ethan, was diagnosed with a tumour on his brain stem at the age of 14 months. He spent the next 9 months in hospital, many of those in intensive care. Ethan underwent numerous operations during those months, from emergency abdominal surgery to lengthy brain surgery, all to just get him over the first hurdle, a hurdle which the doctors later told us they didn’t think he would clear.

After his operations his little lungs struggled to cope unaided so the decision was made to give him a tracheostomy which, along with his feeding tube, cerebral shunt and PICC line all became part of him and his amazing character. January 2015 arrived and with that so did the chemotherapy. 12 weeks on and an MRI Scan showed the tumour had shrunk slightly to the amazement of the doctors who had expected it to remain the same, if not grow a little.

Ethan continued to make good progress, and with care available at home he was finally able to leave hospital. We all adapted to life at home, giving him regular medication and sticking to a strict feeding plan. His brother, Harry and sister, Leah adored being able to play with him somewhere other than a hospital bed and he was soon king of the household, demanding toys, phones and Mr Tumble on repeat. Who were we to refuse?

Life threw a few more obstacles in our way, a change of chemotherapy lead to a constant build up of fluid in his abdomen which needed draining regularly, at one point they removed 3 litres. After his latest dose of chemo, Ethan developed a temperature which isn’t uncommon while on the treatment so on the 13th of November he was admitted to hospital for antibiotics. 4 days later he suffered a cardiac arrest while in hospital and it took 20 minutes for him to respond to CPR. Ethan returned to intensive care and was placed on a lung oscillator.

Between the 17th and 26th he had regular physio and daily xrays to look for signs of improvement but there were none. In the early hours of the 27th we were asked to step outside while they moved Ethan for physio and were warned he may arrest again. He did. We were called back in to see him and it was at that point his brave Mummy told the doctors and nurses to step back and stop CPR. Little Ethan had put up an incredible fight but it was just too much for him and he passed away aged 2 and a half.

We spent the following week at Naomi House who supported us and made us feel comfortable. They cooked for us when eating was the last thing on our minds, they entertained Harry and Leah when being happy seemed impossible and they helped us make sense of what had happened.

Please donate what you can, they are an amazing charity who help hundreds of families by taking children on days out and providing respite care for families.

Thank you.”