Thanks for taking the time to visit Ava's ECMO Challenge JustGiving page.

'We've got her back!' - the words that changed our lives forever. Our daughter Ava had suffered heart failure 3 times in less than 45 minutes, and during the last one, we were told she had gone and to say goodbye. We do that, and retire to the parent lounge, broken and wondering how we would tell our 10 year old son that his sister was now gone to be with the angels.

There's a knock at the door - the surgeon is stood in the doorway, looking exhausted, 'We've got her back!' - he continues, 'There's this risky option...' - I cut him off - 'Do it, but do it now!' - not hesitating for clarity, he turns and is gone. The next thing we know, Ava has gone into cardiac arrest for a 4th time. This time, the 'risky option' is in place and is switched on. Ava is alive!

The 'risky option' was ECMO, not a new machine, but one that had not been used in this situation before in the UK. Basically a heart and lung machine, it allows the body to recover and deal with infection whilst it looks after the pumping and oxygenating of the blood. With only 20 of these machines in the UK at only 4 hospitals, luckily for us  including GOSH, quite simply, without the ECMO machine, Ava would now be flying with the angels, and we would be left as a broken couple explaining to our little boy that his sister has gone forever.

In appreciation of the lifesavers work to keep Ava with us, we want to supply another ECMO machine, which in turn will save the lives of many children, just like Ava, who without that technology wouldn't stand a chance of life. Will you help us?

If you would rather not use a card online, please simply text:

'ECMO80 £10' to 70070 to give £10, and you will be texted and asked if you can GiftAid your donation. Thank you for your valued support!