Archie's Story: Christmas at Crossbasket

When Jon and Anna’s little boy Archie was born in December 2023, he faced critical complications at birth, after he was diagnosed with an extremely rare condition.

This meant the family, originally from Inverness, were facing the possibility of being over 100 miles away from their loved ones and spending the Christmas holidays on their own in Glasgow.

Thankfully, Crossbasket House and Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity were there every step of the way. The teams cared for and supported the family, making sure Archie’s first Christmas and New Year were still full of magic and joy, in the face of uncertainty.

Archie’s Hospital Journey

Archie received specialist treatment in Glasgow and was diagnosed with Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency (OTC) - an extremely rare metabolic condition that prevents the body from breaking down excess protein. OTC can affect 1 in 77,000 people and males are at higher risk of facing serious complications.

Jon, Archie’s Dad shared:

“We didn’t really know what was going to happen at the time, it was such a blur and a difficult time for us. When you have your first child, you expect your life to change, but not quite as much as this.

“It’s such a rare condition that most people haven’t heard of, but there is still help and support out there. The Office for Rare Conditions and Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity offered support and guidance – they want people to know that they are not alone.”

Crossbasket House

While Archie was in hospital, Crossbasket House was able to provide accommodation for his parents so that they could remain close to Archie.

“We stayed in Crossbasket House over Christmas 2023 for around seven weeks.

“I had the chance to give back and say thanks to Crossbasket House by cooking a Christmas Dinner for all the staff and residents.

“It was a great distraction during a tough time and a chance to still celebrate the holidays.”

Jon, Archie’s Dad

Recently Archie underwent an auxiliary transplant, with a selfless liver donation from his Dad, Jon. Thankfully, 3 months on, both are recovering well!

“There were a few hiccups on the way, but on the whole Archie’s recovery is going well and we are so proud of how far he has come in such a short space of time!”

How Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity Helped

Throughout Archie’s hospital journey, Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity have been able to provide support and services to help make the family’s time in hospital more comfortable.

“The care we receive means the world to us. Every time we go back, the staff remember Archie. That’s what makes Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity so special, the relationships are personal, and we feel a part of a community.” 

Jon, Archie’s Dad

Our Play Team helped ease the family’s experience by offering welcomed distractions for both Archie and his parents, providing them with a moment of respite during difficult times.

When baby Archie was in critical condition, Little Inky Feet brought some comfort to his parents. Our Little Inky Feet project offers parents the chance to capture handprints or footprints of their babies, providing an invaluable keepsake during the toughest of times.