Mum’s £6k Fundraiser Supported Kids With Burns

The mother of a four-year-old girl who suffered devastating burns raised over £6,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, as thanks for the care her daughter received.

Charlotte Woodman, a Nursery Director from Northampton, called upon her friends, family and nursery parents, to help her raise the sum to say thank you, and help other children being treated for burns at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where her daughter, Tay Boddington, was treated.

Charlotte and Tay were at a family barbecue when an outdoor heater exploded onto Tay, setting her hair alight, and causing significant burns on her chin, neck, chest and leg. Beside herself with panic and worry, Charlotte called for an ambulance and rode with Tay to their local hospital, but doctors immediately referred Tay to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, for specialist treatment in its Burns Centre.

When they arrived in Birmingham, Charlotte felt a sense of light relief as the specialist team welcomed them, explaining exactly what would happen next. First Tay underwent tests to see how deep her burns were and they confirmed that Tay would need an operation to take skin from her head to create grafts to repair the burnt skin.

The team explained to Charlotte that they would need to move quickly in order to preserve and save Tay’s skin, so the next day, Tay went to theatre. Later that day, Tay woke up with bandages around her head and dressings on her chin, neck, chest and leg, where skin from her head had been used to patch her burns.

Seven days later, Tay went back into surgery to have her bandages removed and dressings changed. Charlotte was nervous to tell Tay that the doctors had needed to shave her head to complete the skin grafts, but Tay simply said: “it’ll be okay mummy!”

After seven more days recovery on the ward, Tay was allowed to go home and after the whirlwind of events that had taken place, Charlotte finally had time to reflect on the care her daughter had received and decided she wanted to raise money for the unit.

Charlotte said: “From the moment we arrived at the Burns Centre at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, I knew Tay was in safe hands. Everyone was so kind and helpful and the care Tay received was second to none so I set up a fundraising page so that we could make a donation to say thank you. I’m so pleased with how much we managed to raise thanks to everyone’s generosity.

“I also reached out to Tonies, who make audio players with character figurines for kids. I told them Tay’s story and how difficult it can be for burns patients, especially if they don’t have the use of their hands, and they kindly sent some Toniebox players to the Burns Centre, for patients to enjoy.”

Annie Eytle, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “Charlotte experienced every parent’s worst nightmare, but Tay was in definitely in safe hands. Our specialist Burns Centre receives regional, national and international referrals. It sounds like Tay was incredibly brave and we’re so glad our fantastic Burns Centre left such an impression.

“Charlotte and Tay have raised an astounding amount with the help of their generous friends and family, and that will go on to help us continue supporting kids, just like Tay.”