All my problems began when I was born 13 weeks premature at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield on the 23rd April 1988 at 1.52am. I weighed an incredible two pounds and nine and a half ounces. I was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary as soon as I was born because that was the only hospital that had a ventilator available. 

I had my first shunt inserted into my head when I was approximately seven weeks old. I was gravely ill. A few weeks after I had my shunt inserted at Leeds General Infirmary I was transferred back to the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield onto the Special Care Baby Unit, where I remained until the end of July. 

After I was released from the Northern General Hospital I was still being taken up to the hospital for regular checkups due to me not eating or drinking, constantly being sick and just generally not being myself.