Witham father thanks Morrisons Foundation for supporting hospital that helps his daughter

Barry Day, a store manager at Morrisons in Witham, Essex, has thanked the Morrisons Foundation and his store colleagues for supporting Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity after his daughter received a lifesaving heart transplant at the London hospital.     Barry Day, a store manager at Morrisons in Witham, Essex, has thanked the Morrisons Foundation and his store colleagues for supporting Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity after his daughter received a lifesaving heart transplant at the London hospital.

Barry’s daughter Rosie was diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy when she was just two years old, a condition that affects one in a million children. Barry and his wife Sara were told that their daughter had severe heart failure and would need a heart transplant within a year if she were to survive. Rosie spent 160 days on intensive care, fighting for her life. Finally, the Day family received the call that a heart was available and, after six months in intensive care and around a year after she was first diagnosed, Rosie had her heart transplant. 
Barry and Sara from Woodham Mortimer, juggled looking after Rosie and their other two children, George and Grace, whilst Rosie was on intensive care. Sara stayed in parent accommodation provided by GOSH Charity which gave her some stability during this incredibly difficult time.

The Morrisons Foundation, which was set up by Morrisons supermarkets in 2015 and awards grants for charity projects which help to improve people's lives, have donated £300,000 to help fund parent accommodation close to GOSH. Family accommodation is so important as it means that families can be at their child’s bedside within minutes, at whatever time of the day or night. This is vital for families of the most seriously ill children who are treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Rosie, now five years old, is doing well at home and has started attending school again but still needs intensive rehabilitation as a result of the strokes which she suffered whilst waiting for her heart. She comes back to Great Ormond Street Hospital regularly for appointments and treatment and so the Day family still benefit from staying in parent accommodation now.

Barry Day said: “I don't know what we would have done without parent accommodation whilst Rosie was on intensive care for all those months. It meant that Rosie's siblings could come and stay at weekends, and we could all be together as a family. It means a lot to me and my family to know that the Morrisons Foundation is helping to fund something so important to us all and it makes me really proud to work for the store. Some of my colleagues took on a half marathon recently and the Morrisons Foundation are matching all the money they raise which we are putting towards more of Rosie’s rehabilitation treatment, we are truly grateful.”

Amit Aggarwal, Director of Corporate Partnerships at Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity said: “We’d like to say a big thank you to the Morrisons Foundation who have donated a fantastic £300,000 to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. These vital funds have enabled us to create brand new communal areas and kitchens in our parent accommodation facilities, which are making a real difference to families like Rosie’s.”

For media enquiries, please contact:

Francesca Vitale
Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity
Tel: 0203 841 3011
Email: francesca.vitale@GOSH.org

About Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity: 

Great Ormond Street Hospital is one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals with the broadest range of dedicated, children’s healthcare specialists under one roof in the UK. The hospital’s pioneering research and treatment gives hope to children from across the UK with the rarest, most complex and often life-threatening conditions. Our patients and families are central to everything we do – from the moment they come through the door and for as long as they need us. Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity needs to raise money to support the hospital to give seriously ill children, the best chance for life. The charity funds research into pioneering new treatments for children, provides the most up to date medical equipment, funds support services for children and their families and supports the essential rebuilding and refurbishment of the hospital. You can help us to provide world class care for our patients and families. For more information visit www.gosh.org