Archie was just 2 years old when he was diagnosed with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH).
Our first instinct after Archie was diagnosed was to ask: “How can we make him better?”
Doctors told us there was no known cure, just the possibility of a bilateral lung transplant. We felt powerless as we watched our son go from a seemingly healthy toddler to a boy who was short of breath and side-swiped by this vicious disease. The experience changed our lives forever.
We nearly lost Archie twice in those early years but he was saved through pioneering surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). That surgery for Archie was so successful that he currently has a good quality of life. He loves taekwondo competitions, riding his BMX and, other than being short of pace compared to his friends, you wouldn’t know that he lives with PAH.
Our moment of resolve arrived just before Archie went into GOSH for his operation. We decided that we were going to do whatever it took to seek a cure through medical research, regardless of the surgical outcome. We would create a legacy for Archie and a broader purpose for his fight whether he survived or not.
In 2013, we organised an auction at Daylesford Farm. One lot, a drawing of a dinosaur by Archie. It was bid on like a lost Warhol and became the inspiration for the name of our charity, The Dinosaur Trust. At each auction, Archie produces a new dinosaur drawing which is always the highlight of the event.
Since his treatment at GOSH Archie lives a normal life, and although he is limited with his output capability when doing exercise, but this doesn’t stop him! He loves going to the skate park or pump track, enjoys drawing (especially dinosaurs), playing video games with his friends and he really loves dancing and rapping! He trains daily to keep strong and we are constantly amazed by his strength and determination.