Our story
We started this fund in memory of our beautiful son, Magnus Asika. Welcomed to the world six weeks early in September 2021, after some initial struggles in NICU, little Magnus joined his big brother, Axel, at home in London, where we enjoyed being a family of four for several months. It was then in early January 2022, after what we had believed to be a routine follow-up cardiology appointment, we received some life changing news. Magnus had developed a serious, and rare in babies, heart condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. This was the main symptom of a genetic condition he would later be diagnosed with called Noonan's Syndrome.
Our sweet and smiley little boy entered Great Ormond Street Hospital late January 2022 where he then remained for the next six months, and, despite our hopes for the future, he passed away after the most gallant fight at nine months old. Over this time, we witnessed Magnus receive the best care possible.
The incredible work that the teams do at GOSH depends on charitable support to give seriously ill children the best chance to fulfil their potential.
What are we fundraising for?
When we heard about a new pilot scheme GOSH required funds for we knew we wanted to help. The hospital need to raise £350,000 for piloting an important new unit for patients who require more enhanced and complex care than standard ward patients, but who are not so unwell that they need to be treated on an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) which will sit alongside the High Dependency Units (HDU). HDUs are wards for patients who need more intensive observation, treatment and nursing care than is possible in a general ward, but slightly less than that given in ICU.
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Little Magnus would have really benefitted from this alternative type of unit so having the opportunity to help raise the funding to put this in place couldn't be closer to our hearts. Children and their parents are going through unimaginable times this very moment, and units like this will make a real change for some of the patients who require the most care.
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