Mother and Son Abseiling for George’s
13 February 2024
Sam and her family’s lives were turned upside down when her son Massimo began to experience unusual eye pain and headaches. Sam explained: “For a high-energy 12-year-old, it was frightening to see his rapid decline.
“He was admitted to the paediatric wards for test after test. The fear of an uncertain diagnosis loomed over us.
“We were then confronted by every parent's worst fears, a CT scan picked up a huge lesion deep behind his eye. Our world fell apart as we were given a malignancy diagnosis.”
Sam continued: “Thankfully an MRI revealed that the tumour was benign. It felt like a miracle was granted.
“We shared our journey with other families facing their own battles, witnessing the strength and resilience of both children and parents alike.”
With only a handful of centres in Europe that could treat Massimo’s specific condition, Sam explained how St George's interventional radiology team, Moorfields at St George's and Great Ormond Street Hospital came together to provide the specialist care that Massimo would need:
“The collaborative efforts of St George's Interventional Radiology team, Moorfields at St George's and Great Ormond Street Hospital ensured that Massimo received the specialised treatment he needed for his rare congenital condition, which led to his remarkable recovery.
“We are forever grateful to the nurses and doctors whose care and compassion made all the difference during our time at the hospital, the team who operated on Massimo, and the staff on the Nicolls Ward.”
Massimo whilst in hospital.
On Saturday 9 March Sam and Massimo will take the plunge, abseiling off the 13 storey Pelican Hotel and Residence located at St George’s Hospital. They’ll be joined by many other fundraisers all raising money for our Time for a Change appeal.
“St George's Hospital Charity is a cause close to our hearts because they provided vital support during a challenging time for us. Massimo and I are excited to take the plunge!” Sam explained.
She added: “By supporting this cause, we aim to provide children and their families with the best possible care and facilities, ensuring that they receive the support and treatment they deserve.
“Please support this incredible cause to help positively impact their lives during their toughest moments.“
We still have plenty of places left for our third annual abseil event in March, sign up now and do something amazing whilst raising for our Time for a Change appeal.
