#runneroftheweek - Will Readhead

10 years ago, Will became a father for the first time, but his first weeks of fatherhood were not as expected. Will’s son Harry was born prematurely and at just two hours old, doctors noticed something was seriously wrong. Harry had a blockage in his digestive system which required emergency specialist treatment at The Royal London Hospital – 35 miles away from home.

While Harry underwent treatment at the hospital, The Sick Children’s Trust provided Will and wife Hilary with free accommodation at Stevenson House. 

Dad Will says: “The hardest moment in my life was signing consent forms before his operation, knowing that the worst case scenario was the death of my first born son at less than one day old.

“We were 35 miles from home, but we couldn't bear the thought of leaving him and, fortunately for us, the staff on the ward put us in touch with The Sick Children's Trust’s Stevenson House.

“Stevenson House provided a ‘Home from Home’ environment for us, and sharing the communal areas with other parents going through similar experiences was incredibly reassuring. I hate to think how we would have coped without the ability to stay on site. Since then, I have been a supporter of The Sick Children’s Trust.”

Harry is now 10-years-old and a happy, outgoing and sporty young man who enjoys swimming for Guildford City Swimming Club and playing rugby for Guildfordians RFC.