Mum’s 62-Mile Mission Thanked Medics For Saving Baby’s Life

A grateful mum took on a 62-mile mission and raised over £1,680 for us, after medics saved her two-year-old son, Oscar’s, life just days after he was born.

Mum of three, Catherine Robinson, from Stoke-On-Trent, took on our 62 Miles in October challenge in 2025, completing the distance over the course of the month, to say thank you to our hospital.

Catherine first found out that her baby’s journey wasn’t going to be straight forward when an abnormality relating to his heart was spotted during her 20-week pregnancy scan. After further scans with specialist doctors Catherine was told her baby would have one of three conditions, that could only be confirmed when he arrived.

That day came in August 2023, when Oscar was born at Catherine’s local hospital, at just 39 weeks’ gestation. To Catherine’s distress, Oscar wasn’t breathing and was rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where he was stabilised with oxygen, adrenaline and other medications. Medics tried to fit Oscar with a long line to make administering medication easier and more effective but after multiple attempts failed, Oscar’s body began to shut down and he was put on a ventilator. Catherine still didn’t know the extent of Oscar’s heart condition and was told she should wait to speak to specialists at our hospital, where Oscar was to be transferred the next day.

When Oscar arrived in Birmingham, he was admitted straight to our Paediatric Intensive Care Unit where he was kept stable. A few days later, he was diagnosed with a complex combination of over eight fatal heart conditions including Shone’s Complex, which is characterised by a parachute mitral valve, supravalvular mitral membrane, subaortic stenosis, and coarctation of the aorta.

Sadly though, the medication that had been helping Oscar cope with his conditions during the first few days of his life stopped working and he went into heart-failure.

At just six-days-old, Oscar underwent open heart surgery at our hospital and though it went well, he still had a tough journey ahead of him as he faced infections and fluid loss during his recovery.

Thankfully through continued specialist care and regular monitoring at our hospital, Oscar, who is now two, is thriving against the odds and loves playing with his brothers, Isaac, who is six, and four-year-old Arlo.

Oscar will need further heart surgery in the not-too-distant future, and that’s why Catherine signed up to take on the hospital charity’s 62 Miles in October challenge, and raise funds to give back for the incredible care that saved Oscar’s life, and for the treatment yet to come.

Catherine said: “I owe my everything to Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the team who not only saved his life but cared for both of us at such a traumatic time so I signed up for the challenge to give back, say thank you and spread awareness.”

Annie Eytle, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We’re so grateful to Catherine for taking part in our challenge but also for sharing hers and Oscar’s story, which has served as both inspiration and motivation to our other challengers.

“Catherine has raised an incredible amount which will go towards helping us continue doing more for sick kids just like Oscar, and their families.”