A mum of three from Willington is to spend her 36th birthday doing the Great North Run to raise funds for Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, a cause which has become very close to her heart, following her own family experience.
Samantha Morgan’s two-year-old son Max is now fit and well but shortly after he was born, things looked very different. “Max was just four weeks old when he was admitted to the specialist unit at Leeds Children’s Hospital last summer as blood tests indicated he may have a rare liver disease,” Samantha explains. “A biopsy showed his liver was inflamed and in the words of his consultant was ‘painting a bleak picture’. I felt heartbroken.
“Miraculously, after several weeks, he gradually started to improve and we now know that Max was suffering from idiopathic neonatal hepatitis, a condition which most babies recover from but those that don’t will require a liver transplant. I know all too well that we are the lucky ones. From my time on that ward I’ve seen what childhood liver disease means and what families go through. When Max was really poorly, I made all kinds of promises to the universe that I would do something good if he would just get better.
“So that’s why I’m doing the Great North Run even though I’m not really a runner! I’ve now discovered that CLDF provide support to parents whose children have liver disease, making that journey less lonely, and fund research into these conditions, giving hope to families who really do need it. If I can help them by taking on this challenge, then something good has come from all this trauma.“
Michelle Wilkins, Head of Children’s and Families’ Services at Children’s Liver Disease Foundation commented: “We’re delighted to hear that Max is now well. We’re here for every family facing a diagnosis of liver disease in their child but we rely on voluntary donations so we’re so grateful to Samantha by supporting us in this way. It’s a wonderful gesture which and will no doubt prove a memorable birthday!”
You can support Samantha’s Great North Run challenge by going to Samantha Morgan is fundraising for Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (justgiving.com)
