Study background
The purpose of the trial was to learn the effect of a new infant formula on the growth of infants diagnosed with Cows Milk Protein Allergy compared to a reference formula, and to see whether the test formula can reduce the risk of infections, reduce medication use and reduce healthcare costs as well as whether it is tolerated by infants.
During our visit to have Daisy's (our baby's) allergy tests at the hospital when she was 2 months old we met Dr Chapman (@drjohnpchapman) who then explained all about the study which was running. He said we had the option of choosing to participate or not and gave us all the information.
Can you tell us a bit about your experience please?
Before the study Daisy was crying constantly, being sick and had a rash over much of her body. She had been loosing weight as a result of this but once the research process began she immediately started to put it back on. The support from the research team is amazing. We visit now almost monthly which will reduce as time goes on. Ever since our first appointment every person that we have spoken to has listened to all of our worries and helped with Daisy,
How did you feel about being approached to participate in research and the consequent visits you've made?
I feel really lucky that we've been given the chance to help skills and treatments develop, for people like ourselves to get more support and offer help too.
Is there anything you would like the research team to change?
Nothing!!!
What would you say to other people who are thinking about participating in research?
Take the chance! It is the best thing to be able to help out whilst getting help yourselves. Daisy has stopped crying and is happy and interested in things again. The treatment she has received from Dr Chapman, Claire and the team has been outstanding; they've become like another family.
Is there anything else at all that you would like to add? Thank you to everyone that has given us the chance for Daisy to be in the study and for all the extremely wonderful support. It's more than we could have hoped for. #WhyWeDoResearch I think research is important because it gives people the change to develop skills and treatments for people like us to then get the help which is needed. |
Since participating in this patient story opportunity @JamesPagetNHS, Megan and Daisy's story has featured in the Trust magazine and the local media. You can see these in more detail below...
The response has been incredible, Megan and Daisy rarely walk the corridors now without people saying hello and appreciating their story. Megan does not realise just how much of an inspiration she has been in sharing her story and how much of an impact this has had on staff and other patients, and for this we at JPUH would like to take the chance to publicly thank her for her time, efforts and for being generally fantastic!
@JamesPagetNHS
@JPUHResearch
@ClaireW_UK
@drjohnpchapman
Here's Daisy now in 2018! These photos have been kindly supplied by mum Megan especially for this relaunch of her original blog