A newborn baby was rushed to Alder Hey after his parents were told he needed surgery or he would not survive.
Claire Sharples had a normal, healthy pregnancy and could not wait to welcome her son Theodore to the world via a planned C-section. But in August 2018, at just no more than two days old, Claire and her husband Mike were told their newborn son had a serious heart condition.
During an already worrying time, Theodore was rushed from the Royal Bolton Hospital to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in an ambulance which was "dramatic and scary". It was there, at just 10 days old, Theodore underwent the surgical procedure that would save his life.
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Claire told the ECHO: "I had a very easy pregnancy, I had a planned C-section for my own health reasons and that went fine. He was a very quiet baby, as first time parents we thought brilliant but little did we know his body was struggling.
"On day two, during his 24-hour checks, the nurse found he had a heart murmur and he was taken down to the ICU where we were told he had four heart problems, the biggest problem being blood wasn't being pumped around his body and without surgery he would die.
"It was a lot to deal with, we didn't have an option, he needed to have surgery so we hoped and prayed we'd come to Alder Hey because it's got the best reputation. We were told there was a room at the Ronald McDonald House and told to pack a bag, we didn't really know what that meant."
Claire and Mike stayed at the house for three weeks until Theodore was well enough to come home. Theodore is now a happy and healthy five-year-old, who enjoys school, sport, reading, and being a big brother to two-year-old Penelope. But Claire and Mike have never forgotten the support they had from Ronald McDonald House Alder Hey during Theodore’s challenging first few weeks of life.
Claire added: "It's a facility you don't know about unless you need it. As grateful as we were, it's very run down. I remember crying because of the depressing surroundings, don't get me wrong you don't expect a five-star hotel but you're already going through so much.
"The staff and volunteers make the house a home, it's not the brick and mortar. We walked away with a healthy child and we set out to renovate the room to give back so we raised over £10,000, because of covid it hasn't been done yet but we were excited to hear about the full renovation."
The Ronald McDonald House at Alder Hey will undergo a multi-million pound refurbishment. As the charity turns 30 this year, the official announcement was made at a VIP event on Thursday, September 14.
The refurbishment will include a complete refit of all bedrooms and ensuite bathroom replacements, adding family kitchens to each floor, the creation of interconnecting rooms for larger or blended families and improving the dayroom facilities to allow for more families to make use of the house and offer complementary services such as hairdressing, yoga and family support.
There will also be a a relandscaped garden with new, dedicated space for families to relax and children to play. It is expected the work will begin early next year and will take place in two phases meaning the house will remain partly operational. The work will likely be completed late 2025.
The Charity has raised the majority (£9 million) of the funds needed for the project but is launching a £2 million public appeal, calling on the local community to raise the remaining funds required for the vital refurbishment. To donate to the Ronald McDonald House Alder Hey refurb appeal, click here.
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