Our Story
|
Our daughter Connie was born with a congenital heart defect in March 2019. At three weeks she underwent successful surgery to make a temporary repair and was able to come home from the Evelina Hospital, London. In August 2020, my wife and I decided to agree for planned surgery for her which was intended to extend her life until we could find a heart donor. Unfortunately Connie passed away due to complications after the surgery, in November 2020. Whilst in hospital, I watched how challenging it was to take a sick child and help them sit upright for play. After her passing I came up with an idea to improve sick children's play and posture by designing a cot-based chair which would enhance their quality of life post-surgery. A first concept and prototype has been completed and we are beginning a second prototype in 2023. The hope is to create enough chairs that would be used by the 22 children's hospitals up and down the country and the 55 Children's Hospices. |
About the family...Russ Banner is a father and careers coach professional who supports adults into work opportunities. He also runs his own company producing infographic products for schools. He has a strong creative mind and has been working on the medical product with a design team for over a year, spending his money to bring the product to hospitals in need. Vikki Banner is a mother and primary school teacher who has lived through the experience of a child in intensive care and has shown incredible resilience and fortitude. She brings a lot of ideas and wisdom to the product development. Henri is six and loves football, swimming, climbing and almost anything physical. Connie was an amazing resilient little girl, who loved play, bath time and animals. She went through 2 rounds of surgery in her short life. She did, and continues to, impact our lives. |
Sign up to our Mailing List to receive updates on the chair's progress!
|
|
