Father takes on Surrey Half Marathon in honour of son’s care at Epsom Hospital “We all rely on the NHS, and supporting it really does make a difference.”
When Stuart glover’s son Jensen was born at Epsom Hospital in January 2023, the family faced an anxious and frightening start to life together.
Born with breathing difficulties and extreme lethargy, Jensen spent his first two weeks in the Special Care Baby Unit at Epsom Hospital, where he received round-the-clock care from the dedicated team.
“The nurses, doctors and staff were absolutely incredible. The care we received as a family during that time was exceptional and we can’t thank them enough.”
Thankfully, Jensen made a full recovery and was able to go home in early February and Stuart says, “I now have an almost 3-year-old son who is my absolute hero.”
However, Jensen’s journey with the hospital did not end when he was born. Jensen was later diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis Type I, a complex genetic condition that means he will remain under the care of the paediatric team at Epsom Hospital until adulthood.
“Because of the nature of Jensen’s condition, new symptoms can appear at any time,” Stuart explained.
“Knowing that we have the Epsom paediatric team there for us whenever we need them is incredibly reassuring. The care Jensen has received from his consultant and nurses has been outstanding.”
The family have sadly had many recent interactions with Epsom Hospital and been supported by its care through two pregnancy losses and a recent surgery that Stuart underwent on his leg. It has been during their time in hospital that Stuart decided that the best way to say thank you, would be to fundraise to support the teams and their services.
During Stuart’s recovery, he has decided to take on his biggest challenge yet- running a half marathon. “Running had never been an option for me before, so training for a half marathon just nine months post-surgery is a huge challenge. I am still not fully recovered, and training hasn’t been easy, but it feels like the right thing to do.”
As he prepares to take on the Surrey Half Marathon in March 2026, Stuart hopes his story and Jensens, will encourage others to get involved and support their local hospital.
“The staff at Epsom Hospital saved my son’s life. Fundraising for the Charity is the very least I can do. If you’re thinking about donating or taking on a challenge yourself, don’t hesitate. We all rely on the NHS, and supporting it really does make a difference.”
Donate today to support Stuart at https://www.justgiving.com/page/stuart-glover-1