170 years of Great Ormond Street Hospital
14 Feb 2022, 3:13 p.m.
This year we celebrate GOSH's 170th birthday, marking almost two centuries of transforming the lives of seriously ill children. Here we chat to Ant (pictured above with daughter Amelia), one of those children now grown up.
Ant's Story
GOSH opened its doors for the first time on 14 February 1852, with only ten beds. Now, around 600 seriously ill children from all over the UK come to GOSH every day. When he was 16 years old, Ant was one of those children.
After he contracted three viral infections in 2006, Ant was treated at GOSH with the life-saving ECMO machine. Thankfully, he made a full recovery. Years later, Ant spent four years traveling the UK and inspiring people to raise funds for the children’s charity. His optimism and drive to help others have been so inspiring that in 2015 he was named one of the happiest people in the UK by the Independent on Sunday.
“Being an ex-ECMO patient has given me a second chance at life. Without it, I simply would not be alive."
Watch our film to hear more of Ant's story.
You can learn more about Ant and what he's up to today by visiting his website.
The Power of Progress
From developing nursing training in the late 19th century and the opening of the UK’s first Leukaemia Research Unit in the 1960s, through to today’s breakthroughs in gene therapy and its pivotal role in the national management of COVID-19, GOSH has been a trailblazer in child healthcare.
This extraordinary hospital has always depended on charitable support to give children — like young Ant — the best chance to fulfil their potential.
While the NHS meets the day-to-day running costs of the hospital, GOSH relies on support to provide the best care, expertise and facilities.
Imagine how much further GOSH can go in the future with your support.
You can help GOSH continue to forge ahead with pioneering breakthroughs, bringing millions of seriously ill children life-altering treatments and cures for generations to come.