Sisters in thank you walk for hospital

Nehal Chauhan, of Kynance Gardens, was devastated when her son was diagnosed with a heart condition,
as her father died from a heart attack eight years before.

Along with her sister, Panesha Chauhan, 33, from Stanmore, completed the British Heart Foundation's
(BHF) Hearts First Tower of London Jog last Wednesday to raise awareness about heart disease.

Nehal's son Reo was born with transposition of the great arteries in 2005, which meant not enough oxygen was being circulated around his body. The condition was detected within hours of his birth and Reo was rushed to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The mother-of-two said: "When he was born he was extremely blue and after six hours he wasn't eating, and
we realised there was something wrong.

"I never understood why parents were crying when they went to Great Ormond Street Hospital, but we were
crying when we left, and now I totally understand their pain.

"You love your children, but you just try and detach yourself, as you don't know whether they will make it. It
wasn't until I got him home that I was able to see he was safe."

After an operation to switch around the arteries to his heart, Reo was released from hospital after six weeks.

Two and a half years later Nehal is the proud mother of a healthy toddler and wants to say thank you to the charity. She said: "You can't tell what he went through, but we remember and we don't take anything for granted."

Panesha and Nehal's father, Ramesh needed a heart transplant in 1997, but due to his rare blood type was unable to get one and did not survive, so the BHF has an extra special meaning for the women.

Nehal, 34, said: "I got so much support and information from the BHF. I am happy to be giving something back to the charity. We have raised £400 and hope raise more."

If you would like more information on the event, visit www.bhf.org.uk/towerjog and if you are
interested in sponsoring the sisters visit www.justgiving.com/neh