Help Harry Walk Fund

Day 2 (sunday)

Me and Shane not slept well and Harry woke at 5am we put him in with us and he had another hour. Harry has had a chesty cough since last week and we are starting to worry about him being well enough for surgery on Tuesday the 1st .He had a course of antibiotics but the chesty cough persists so we will have to wait until Dr Park and his team make a decision on Monday. We took Harry for a nice walk in a park and he did really well on his frame he drags his legs and feet one difficult step after another to the bitter end rather than go in the pushchair it will be that sort of determination that will be needed during Harry’s long journey of physio therapy.

The Journey and day 1

After lots of teary good bye’s and messages of good luck from friends and family on thursday the plan was an early night thursday for an early start friday …. The early night was soon out of the window with all the last-minute packing and checking and double checking then you lay in bed and it finally hits you that this is the eve of a journey of over 5000 miles to take our son to America for an operation that will hopefully change his life forever. Not much sleep to be had when you cannot think of any thing else all the if’s and but’s and maybe’s but this is our only choice it has to work please God tell us we are doing the right thing ?

At 4.45am we woke and we was in the cab on the way to Gatwick by 5.15am everything ran smoothly and we was on the plane before we knew it we was seated ready to take off . After nine and a bit hours and four films and some very sub standard food later we arrived at Atlanta Georgia for our connecting flight another couple of hours and we was on our second flight to St. Louis an hour and eighteen minutes later touch down. We found our way to the taxi rank and loaded up for a twenty-minute journey to our apartment which took forty minute’s the driver we was blessed with was russian, short sighted and deaf and I did have to check at one point that we was in the US and not the USSR. $50 dollars later  and at 11.30 pm UK time 17.30pm St.Louis time we finally arrived at our home for the next 31 day and nights. Apart from an hour and a half sleep on the plane Harry stayed awake for 21 hours before finally crashing at 8.00 pm local time he was absolute star on the journey and made our day easier than we could have imagined.

Day One… Harry woke once through the night but settled quickly and eventually woke at 6.30 am not bad considering the time difference. We then got on pc and phone to contact family which was great for all concerned a bit of exploring and a trip to the most expensive grocery store in the world and a lot of relaxing in the afternoon and that was day one more or less …. if you miss us then we will be missing you xxx

Message From Harry’s Nan

As Harry’s nanny, I just have to make a comment. I want to say how proud I am of my son Chris, and his partner Shane, Harry’s mummy and daddy. They have worked so hard to achieve their goal.
But this could not have happened without the help of so many wonderful people.
Rev Sharon,was the first to give us hope, then the wonderful Katherine and Gavin made our dream seem possible, and gave so much of their time to help us,from there everything escalated.
St Mary’s church in welling, well what can I say about the lovely people there, they have been the most loving generous, kindest, people we have ever met, we are so happy and greatful for their friendship and their love.
Rev Kim and Rev Sharon have both been an amazing support to us all.
Woodside Celtic FootballClub, who my son has played for on and off for years, they have showed true friendship to him, and I truly know my son would repay them with his help without a thought if they ever needed it.
There are so many people that I would like to mention, but I am sure you know who you are, My dearest family, dearest friends, people that we don’t even Know, people from abroad, just wonderful wonderful people that could see a little boy needed help.
Thankyou Thankyou is not enough, but what more can I say. God Bless You All And Keep You Safe Always.
Thursday will be a very difficult day as we say goodbye safe journey, to part of our beloved family, but I know they go with such love and good wishes with them.and I know they go because they want to give their little son the chance to walk, like most of us can.
Your Kindness will never be forgotton.
God Bless You Chris Shane and Harry, hurry home to us soon.
Love You Always. Mum xxx (Marguerite Bailey).

Countdown to America

With just under a week to go before we set off to the states for Harry’s life changing operation we have had so many words of  encouragement and so many good luck messages to all my work colleagues and our friends who took time to speak to me thank you . This morning St Marys church in Welling Kent gave us a very moving send off the congregation their are made up of some fantastic people they cannot do enough for you and always show their support . We will miss you for the next five Sunday’s we are away take care xxx

Kimberly Clark Funday

On Saturday The 15th of October the company i work for Kimberly Clark held a funday to raise funds For Harry and what a great day me and my family and Harry had, their was a five a side football competition with fourteen teams entering congratulations to the team that won and thanks to all the teams that took part especially the ladies team who were great sports. Their was plenty to do to keep the children busy,  bouncy castle, face painting , competitions and a variety of stalls. And a fantastic raffle with some quality prizes. The latest news is that a fabulous £1500 was raised with money still coming in.

Words cannot do Justice to the hard work that’s involved in putting a funday together and  the response by all the people who came and supported us on the day and to those who bought raffle tickets from far and afield it shows how hard certain individuals worked to make it a success and the individuals are The Clarke brothers Steve and Richard and Linda Moore and Emma Cowan all colleagues from work. Special mention to Emma who went above and beyond working extra hours to make this a special day. So thank you to all involved the Management team for being their and to all the people who made it a great day and so many work colleagues who turned up.

So many generous people….Thank You

Some more thank you’s first as the money still comes in and Harry’s aftercare fund continues to grow to ensure the money is available for future equipment and therapy’s that Harry will need in the future. Thank you too the Community Neuro Rehabilitation Unit and too Peter Greg. And too Sue Standing friend of F Gregory. Thank you too  Maggie for the cheque from the Welling women’s Institute. Another thanyou to Bob and Anne for the collection recieved on behalf of the fantastic Sussex Road Ladies Bowling Club from Barnehurst Kent. Thank you to the staff and customers of Red’s Barbers in Plumstead High Street For the Collection and also the staff and customers of the Star Inn Plumstead commen and the staff and customers of  Demon Ink Tattoo Parlour in Welling High Street. Thank you Too Michael Crane and customers of Easycrane Ltd for the fantastic donation of £400. And Anita and Ian Philips for your donation. And to Anna Rirbaumer of Houseproud Nortumberland Heath Erith ZQ!

September/October update

To start with i have to say a massive Thank you to my four work pals Andrew, Mark , Ryan and Jonathon who helped me conquer the 84 mile Hadrians Wall journey i could not have done it with out you all it took us around 32 hours in just over 3 and a half days you should be immensly proud of your efforts.

Thank you to Becky Saunders for arranging the Quiz nightand for the money raised and to the Essex Fairway Trust for their recent donation. Also Nanny Bailey’s Friend Rosemary and the St. Andrews Ladies open Group for their recent donations.

Thank you to Richard for setting up the Woolwich poly school Judo tournament which made Harry £214.00

A big thank you to Vanessa Gulyas and her lovely family including Alan and Stuart Clarke, Fiona and Beryl and their children for the collection at Vanessa’s recent birthday Party.

Another thank you and well done to a work pal Martin Allen who completed the Run to the Beat Half  Marathon at the o2 greenwich with all sponsorship money raised going to Harry, great stuff Martin.

And a big Thank you to Terry Wheeler for our most recent event held at Clancy’s Public House in Woolwich Terry went to every effort to ensure this was a success and a success it was Terry managed to get lots of auction and raffle prizes and also the Deputy Major turned up we raised over £600 on the night thank you again Terry you should be proud of yourself  and thanks to John the landlord and Anne and Barry.