Abbie's Half Marathon to support Birmingham Children's Hospital and Charity

In just over 1-week hundreds of runners will be taking to the streets of Coventry to run the Coventry Half Marathon and to raise money for local charities. 

Amongst them, Abbie who is running for charity partner Birmingham Children's Hospital and Charity on behalf of her daughter Camiyah.

At just 5 weeks old, Camiyah was diagnosed with a liver disease called Biliary Atresia. She was transferred from University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire to Birmingham’s Children’s Hospital to undergo a surgery to help prolong the life of her liver before a vital liver transplant would be needed to save her life.

The surgery failed almost straight away, and she became very poorly, very quickly. Camiyah eventually received her gift of life at 11 months old. However, the joy was short-lived when just 6 months later she was diagnosed with PTLD in her voice box. PTLD is a type of lymphoma cancer caused by the immunosuppressant medication she was prescribed to stop her body from rejecting the new liver.

Following treatment once again at Birmingham children’s Hospital, a recent biopsy showed no cancerous cells. Camiyah has spent the best part of 20 months living in Birmingham children’s Hospital, where she will remain under their care until she reached adulthood.  

The care they provide for the children there is incredible, and Camiyah would not be alive today without the lifesaving treatment and support given to her there. BCH has a special place in the hearts of Abbie and her family, and they will always do whatever they can to give back. The family know first-hand what a huge impact donations to their charity make.

Together we can help save and improve the lives of children like Camiyah.