Carl climbs Kilimanjaro to raise money for Heartlands Hospital

 

In just one week’s time, Carl Tipping is taking on the challenge of a lifetime by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak on the continent of Africa, to raise money for the Neonatal Unit at Heartlands Hospital where his son, Carlson, was born.

Carlson is now a happy and healthy three-year-old, but was born in January 2016 in a very critical condition, and was transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital.

Baby Carlson, pictured in his incubator at Heartlands Hospital.

Here, he received world-class care, including a special cooling treatment, in order to keep him alive. After nearly two weeks of care, Carlson was able to go home with his mum Jo and dad Carl.

Carl said: “Carlson received such fantastic treatment at Heartlands. The doctors, nurses and the specialist equipment on the unit ultimately saved Carlson’s life.

Carl and Carlson together whilst Carlson was still in hospital. 

“Carlson is now three and doing very well considering the fight for his life in the beginning and some subsequent challenges. Every milestone has been a huge victory for our boy. We are eternally grateful to the treatment he received and would love to show our appreciation by fundraising to help the hospital and staff to continue to provide such valuable treatment.”

Carlson is now healthy and happy.

Carl will be taking on this epic challenge later this month, and is busy preparing for the tough climb that awaits him on Kilimanjaro. He said: “The challenge requires a lot of training and preparation. It will take six days to reach the 5,895 metre summit, and then two days to descend the mountain.

“This is going to be physically challenging for me, but it is a small challenge in comparison to what my son had to overcome when the odds were against him.”

Carl is raising money to support the unit where Carlson was born, and the money he raises will help Heartlands Hospital Charity in its new appeal to bring seven new state-of-the-art incubators to the unit.

Sian Averill, Fundraising Manager at Heartlands Hospital Charity, said: “On behalf of the Charity I would like to wish Carl the very best of luck for this amazing challenge. What a wonderful way to raise money for the ward where his son was born.

“We’re raising money to provide brand new incubators for the unit which will help to make Heartlands Hospital a world-class provider of Neonatal care. The incubators will provide the best possible start to life for the tiny, vulnerable babies just like Carlson who are born at the hospital and need expert care to give them the best chance of growing and developing.

You can support Carl’s fundraising by visiting his JustGiving page here. 

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