“It was the longest three weeks of our lives.”

Amy and Andrew Joseph had their world turned upside down last year when their 21-month-old daughter was ambulanced to the Oxford Children’s Hospital and had major surgery on her stomach.

As well as coping with every parent’s fears, as the medical team tried to work out what was wrong with the toddler, Amy was nine months pregnant and knew her baby could arrive at any time.

The couple had been concerned something was wrong for some time as their toddler suffered a lot of vomiting bouts throughout the year. But no answers were given, until by chance, a few weeks earlier, a routine scan for her kidney condition picked up something strange on her stomach.

After another bout of sickness, their local hospital gave the toddler an urgent MRI which then resulted in her being transferred to John Radcliffe by ambulance

Amy explains: “We were quite numb to be honest and rather scared. We knew something was clearly very wrong with her, and being so heavily pregnant didn’t help the anxiety. It felt like everything was out of our control.”

Dad, Andrew, said arriving at the Oxford Children’s Hospital was a relief. “Staff immediately made us feel safe and cared for. The team on Tom’s ward were amazing. I haven’t really got the words to describe it, they were just so kind and caring.

"It felt very personal, they were looking after the whole family and everyone we met, from surgeons to the play team went out of their way to support us all.”

While investigations were taking place, Amy went into labour. Things were were happening too quickly for her to go to her local hospital to give birth, as originally planned, so  she was taken from the Oxford Children’s Hospital to Maternity at the John Radcliffe by staff on Tom’s Ward.

Their second child was born safely on November 29th, and Amy was soon back on the ward at the Oxford Children’s Hospital, with her new baby alongside her.

Just three days later explorative surgery on their toddler took place. During the operation it was discovered that their child had a gastric cyst and diffused wall lining. A third of her stomach was removed during seven hours of surgery.

Amy explains: “It was really major surgery, but we were happy with how it went, and slowly but surely our daughter started to become herself again. The play team were incredible and had her laughing and smiling so quickly. We will never forget that.” 

Three weeks after they first arrived the family were able to go home in time for Christmas.

The couple share: “It was strange at first as we had felt so supported in the hospital. I think we are still a little numb from everything that happened, but our children are doing so well and we will always be grateful for the care we got from the Oxford Children’s Hospital.”

Andrew and Amy signed up for our annual fun run at Blenheim Palace, alongside Amy’s dad, aunty and cousin, to say thank you for the expertise and kindness they experienced.

Andrew admits “Running isn’t really my thing but this is our way of showing our gratitude as a family for the way the hospital wrapped its arms around us at this extraordinary time in our lives.

"We’ve learned a lot about how the charity provides so many of the extras that we benefitted from and we want to help those other families who follow in our footsteps.”

Calling themselves ‘The Josephs’ the team have already raised over £1,600, smashing their original £1000 target -  and they hope to  raise even more by the March 22^nd event at Blenheim Palace.

To sign up for the OX5 RUN visit www.ox5run.com and you too can make a difference for families when they need it most.