Grateful Dad’s Tribute to Son’s Life-Saving Care

A father from Wales raised more than £1,200 for our charity after taking on his first half marathon to thank the staff who helped save his young son’s life.

Rhys Ford, from Pontypool, crossed the finish line of the Newport Half Marathon driven by gratitude for the care, compassion and kindness shown to his son, Idris, during one of the most frightening times of his family’s life.

When Idris was just 18 months old, Rhys and his wife, Christine, noticed the whites of Idris’s eyes had turned yellow and feared something was seriously wrong with their little boy. After contacting their GP, they were sent to their local hospital, where blood tests revealed Idris had dangerously abnormal liver function and needed urgent medical care.

Idris spent two weeks in hospital undergoing tests, but doctors were unable to find an answer. Rhys and Christine’s worry only grew, not knowing what was making their son so unwell. After weeks of uncertainty, the family were called late one evening and told they needed to take Idris to our hospital immediately.

Following further weeks in hospital and a liver biopsy, specialists were able to give the family the answers they had been desperately waiting for. Idris was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis type 2, a rare and potentially life-threatening condition. While incurable, the condition can be managed with ongoing treatment, including medication and regular blood tests.

Throughout it all, Rhys says it was the extraordinary care of our hospital staff that carried the family through. Now four years old, Idris is a happy, thriving little boy who loves to play — a world away from those frightening early days — and is still under the hospital’s care.

Wanting to give something back to our hospital, Rhys signed up to the Newport Half Marathon despite having never run long distance before, having lost 13 stone in recent years. Every mile became a way of saying thank you, not just for the medical care his son received, but for the compassion, reassurance and kindness shown to his whole family when they needed it most.

Determined to finish, Rhys pushed through a knee injury to cross the line, cheered on by Christine and Idris from the sidelines.

After sharing his story, Rhys was overwhelmed by the response from friends, family and members of his local community, who came together in a wave of generosity, helping him raise more than ten times his original target. For Rhys, their support meant just as much, if not more, as completing the race.

The money raised will support the hospital’s Liver Ward, including its play area, giving young patients a chance to play, smile and simply be children, even while undergoing treatment.

Rhys Ford said: “We’ll never be able to thank Birmingham Children’s Hospital enough for what they did for Idris. The staff didn’t just care for him — they cared for all of us. They showed us so much kindness and compassion at a time when we were terrified and didn’t know what the future held.

“Taking on the half marathon was my way of giving something back. It was tough, especially with the injury, but every step was driven by how grateful I feel.

“I’ve been blown away by the generosity of everyone who donated. It means so much to know that other people want to support the hospital and help families like ours.

“Crossing the finish line was emotional — it wasn’t just about the run, it was about saying thank you for everything.”

Annie Eytle, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “It’s incredible how Rhys has risen to the challenge and smashed his fundraising goals ten times over.

“His determination to go the distance for sick kids will help us deliver the best possible care for our brave patients on our Liver Ward and their families.”