Case studies

13-year old JJ and his family raise over £15,000 for our House in Oxford

JJ was 11 when he started complaining about pain in his feet in October 2009. His doctor prescribed him pain medication, which unfortunately did not work and JJ suffered from severe pain for the following three weeks.

Later that month JJ collapsed at home and was rushed to ICU at the Royal Berkshire Hospital. His condition was critical and, as the local hospital did not have an intensive care unit for children, he was transferred to the John Radcliffe Children’s Hospital in Oxford, over an hour away from home in Reading.

JJ had to stay in the Oxford Children’s Hospital for almost a month whilst doctors tried to establish what was wrong with him. During this time JJ’s condition varied and he had very high blood pressure (170/130) and his foot pain was so severe that he couldn’t walk – JJ’s illness still remains a mystery to the doctors.

His parents were able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House in Oxford, and be close to JJ at all times to offer him support and reassurance. The stress of not knowing what was wrong with their child was easier to cope with whilst at the House, which provided a space to relax and get away from the busy hospital wards.

JJ’s father, Pieter, said: ‘We could not have dreamt of a better place being available to the family. Andrew Tee, the Oxford House Fundraising Coordinator, was an amazing help and the whole place was clean and welcoming with brilliant facilities.

‘At such a tense and worrying time, the Oxford House was a home for Alison and I, where we could be near JJ when he needed it most.’

The family have become great supporters of the charity and have raised more than £15,000 through events and sponsorship on JJ’s JustGiving page.

Friends of the Hine family nominated the charity to be a beneficiary of raised funds at a golfing event at Celtic Manor featuring celebrity guests, which raised £10,500.

Two years on, JJ made a good recovery and is getting back to fitness. He has attended several events and given speeches to over 240 people. In 2010 he was awarded a Diana Award, which recognises young people who inspire the lives of others. The Oxford House has now adopted JJ as an ‘Ambassador’ in recognition of all his support and hard work.