Aimee Robinson The Yorkshire Three Peak Challenge ⛰️

In May 2025, our beautiful four-year-old son Thomas was admitted to the RVI in Newcastle with a high temperature and a non-blanching rash. After numerous tests, he was eventually diagnosed with severe aplastic anaemia. Receiving this rare, life-threatening condition meant that Thomas’s bone marrow was failing. Due to the seriousness of his condition, Thomas subsequently needed lifesaving blood and platelet transfusions every week. His doctor told us that the only hope for a cure was to undergo a bone marrow transplant. Thomas was incredibly fortunate to have a small number of excellent matches on the existing stem cell register. Luckily for us, an incredibly kind stranger then agreed to donate his compatible bone marrow cells to Thomas to help save his life.

After a traumatic four-month period involving countless hospital trips, lengthy transfusions and detailed consultations with dedicated NHS staff. Thomas received his stem cell transplant on 28 August 2025 on ward 3 at the RVI. Prior to his transplant, he required a week of chemotherapy to wipe out his own immune system so that he was ready for his new one. The day of the transplant itself was incredibly emotional, and we will never forget the donor’s bag of stem cells arriving at the hospital room to be connected to Thomas’s Hickman line. Whilst saving his life, this treatment also meant severely compromising Thomas’s immune system in the short term to enable the newly donated stem cells to replace his failing bone marrow. As a result, with his parents taking turns to stay with him, Thomas then had to endure seven long weeks in an isolated ‘bubble’ ward in the hospital to shield him from any infections. Such was the seriousness of his condition that even a common cold could prove fatal.

It was during this incredibly challenging and precarious seven-week period, in particular, that the Bubble Foundation proved to be a valuable and much-needed friend to Thomas, whilst also helping his parents navigate the trauma of caring for a seriously sick child in such an intense environment. Thankfully, thanks to the care and dedication of the Bubble Foundation and the entire bone marrow transplant team at the RVI, Thomas is now gradually recovering from his serious illness at home. His new immune system grows stronger each day. Thomas is a kind, caring, and loving little boy who has shown incredible strength and resilience since his diagnosis. Saying we are proud parents does not do him justice. He is our brave little warrior.

Owing to our immense gratitude for their amazing role in supporting Thomas’s recovery, we now want to help the Bubble Foundation give other brave children with life-threatening immune conditions the best chance of surviving, recovering, and then thriving after their life-saving treatment. On 22nd of May, a group of us will walk the Yorkshire Three Peaks (24 miles/37km) in less than twelve hours to help raise money for the Bubble Foundation at the Newcastle RVI. I hope you can join us in supporting this wonderful charity and sponsoring our hike. Every contribution makes an important and lasting difference.

Thank you so much,

Aimee and Stephen (Thomas’s parents)

https://www.bubblefoundation.org.uk/

Registered Charity Number 1024552