Our Charity
Why?
The answer is simple; our mission and our charity.
Friends of PICU is a charity dedicated to supporting critically ill children and their families at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Southampton Children's Hospital. Founded in 2006 by parents of children treated at the PICU and PICU medical staff, the charity aims to provide essential equipment, facilities, and services that are not typically covered by the local health authority.
What they Do:
Medical Equipment: Donating lifesaving medical equipment to ensure the best possible care for critically ill children.
Facility Improvements: Enhancing the PICU environment to create a more comforting and supportive space for patients and their families.
Family Support: Offering emotional and practical support to families during their most challenging times.
Education and Training: Providing training for medical staff to ensure they are equipped with the latest knowledge and skills
Charlie’s story
Without this team of amazing and dedicated people our son Charlie would not be here today. Charlie was born with a complex and severe heart disease. This meant that two weeks after he was born, he would need the first of three complex open-heart surgeries. This first surgery came with high risks, as most operations do and roughly eight hours after the operation Charlie went into cardiac arrest. After an hour of CPR and heart massage this incredible team of Doctors, Nurses, Support staff and Surgeons restarted his heart again. Charlie was put onto ECMO, dialysis, NOX, Brain monitoring and ventilators the number of machines around our son was astonishing and over whelming. Charlie had two high level intensive care nurses caring for him 24/7 giving him time to rest and start recovering.
After a few days it was time for Charlie to taken back to theatre. The team successfully removed the ECMO machine and Charlie's blood flow was working as it should. We were over the moon but this was the start of a very long process of recovery. We had a lot of ups and downs in our 7 months on PICU and Ocean ward. But one thing that stood out is everyone was dedicated to supporting Charlie, myself and Becca. They never wavered they always looked for an answer and always gave us an update even if it was not a “good” update. We always felt well informed and were always treated with respect.
With the amount of time we spent on PICU we naturally got to see everything that the team offers. A few are mentioned above but they also offer Parent rooms, Family support liaison, Counselling, Specialist Ambulance retrieval service covering the south and the latest medical equipment to keep the unit ahead of the game in medical care. Not to mention the highly trained Consultants, Doctors, Nurses, and Support staff that bring it all together.
After Charlies second operation we spent a few more weeks on Ocean ward before being discharged at the end of January 2025. It is October 2025 now and Charlie is going from strength to strength he is learning to stand up, eating on his own and most importantly we are getting to do all the things first time parents get to do with their babies. We will always be grateful to the team at Southampton General Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.
Purpose
RAISING AWARENESS
The challenge brings attention to the critical work of friends of PICU, which supports the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Southampton Children's Hospital
FUNDRAISING
The event helps raise significant funds for essential medical equipment, family support services, and improvements to the unit, ensuring children receive the best possible care
PERSONAL CHALLENGE & INSPIRATION
Rowing the Atlantic is one of the toughest endurance races in the world. Completing it in support of Friends of PICU inspires others to contribute and highlights the determination and resilience of both the rowers and the children receiving care
HONORING FAMALIES & PATIENTS
Recognizing the strength resilience, and the love that surrounds critically ill children and their caregivers. Rowing the Atlantic for Friends of PICU helps keep their stories alive and provide ongoing support for others facing similar challenges.