I am running my 5th Great North Run for TOFS, and in particular for my friend’s son, Sammy.
Sammy was born with OA/TOF (Oesophageal Atresia / Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula) and other associated issues. This is where his stomach joined his windpipe and his food pipe was a blind end pouch, so nothing would pass into his stomach and would cause him to choke on his saliva. Although he’s surgically fixed, he’s not cured, lives with a number of issues and has had many operations and investigations under anaesthetic (18 and counting) to help food reach his stomach, along with spinal cord surgery.
TOFS charity provides so much support to Sammy and his family by helping them and other families through the challenges of bringing up a child with OA/TOF, VACTERL and associated conditions.
TOFS vision is for anyone born with OA/TOF to be able to live life unlimited and are working towards a world in which those born with OA/TOF live long and healthy lives, unconstrained by the impact of being born with these conditions.