INTRODUCING OUR NEW BLOGGER – DONNA GILES

Hi, I’m Donna,

I am a mother, a wife, a daughter/daughter-in-law and a sister/sister-in-law. I also like to think I am a campaigner & fundraiser.

I was born with a complex congenital cardiac condition – tricuspid atresia, pulmonary atresia, TGA and ASD. This means I have a right sided single ventricle condition. I have had open heart surgery on 2 occasions, and several scary moments…. but I’m still here…….

I have 2 children, who, in fact are no longer children at all! – a boy, Nathan 26 and a girl, Cerys who has just turned 19. They both have spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy and are full time wheelchair users. Both of them work hard to do their best to achieve. Nathan has a degree in politics and sociology and Cerys is very creative and has her own small business making cards for family and friends.

I have a wonderful husband, and we have been married nearly 30 years. Believe me life has thrown some shit at us so that is no mean feat!

I try hard to campaign on issues that are close to my heart – mainly issues affecting people with disabilities, especially children.

I also try to fundraise for the many charities that have helped us, offering advice, support and providing invaluable equipment that we just wouldn’t be able to access any other way.

As a family, I like to think, we all work hard, in many ways, to be able to have the life we want.