Andy's heartbreak at losing Giorgina
Passion, heart, drive, determination...and an abundance of ability. Andy Liddell is, quite simply, a Wigan Athletic legend.
In his six years with Latics, between 1998 and 2004, Liddell became the club's all-time record goalscorer.
The Yorkshireman inspired Wigan to the Auto Windscreens Shield triumph of 1999 and then promotion to the Championship in 2003, before moving on to Sheffield United and then Oldham.
Liddell also established himself as a real fan favourite on the terraces, with Latics supporters appreciating the fact he was putting in just as much effort and endeavour as they would themselves had they had been blessed with his talent.
Yet all those goals, all those honours, all those plaudits meant nothing earlier this summer, when the lives of Liddell and his family were turned upside down in the most heart-wrenching of circumstances.
On May 29, 2009, Andy's wife Charlotte gave birth to Giorgina Grace, the couple's first child, only for their happiness to be immediately shattered.
Baby Giorgina was born with a condition called gastroschisis, which meant she was unable to digest any food or liquid.
The Liddells had known about the condition during the pregnancy but were told there was a 95 per cent chance that doctors would be able to correct it with surgery.
Sadly, they fell into the five per cent category – and nothing could be done.
With no option but to enjoy their little girl for as long as they could, the family moved into Martin House Hospice in Wetherby, West Yorkshire.
Sadly, Giorgina died just 11 days later.
However, it was 11 days that changed the lives of all concerned forever.
Opening his heart to the Observer, Andy admitted: "Losing a child is something that we'll never get over.
"You just have to get through it.
"And nobody can understand what you're going through until they've actually lost a child themselves.
"You sit there at home, seeing this sort of thing on the news, and think 'that's sad', but that it happens to other people. Until it happens to you.
"That's when it changes your life, and I'm determined it will make my wife and I better people - and it already has.
"There are some people worse off than us. Some kids are stillborn, and my heart goes out to those parents, because they don't get to spend any time with their babies.
"We were fortunate because we had 11 fantastic days with our little daughter, and we have Martin House to thank for that. And it will play a big part in the rest of our lives."
Martin House provides care for children and young people with progressive life-limiting illnesses, and provides invaluable support to their families.
And, despite initial reservations about taking their baby to a Hospice, the Liddells would not have swapped their brief time there with Giorgina for anything.
"When somebody says to you that your child needs to go to a Hospice, you immediately think of elderly people and people dying," Liddell continued.
"When we were told Giorgina wouldn't survive, it was indescribable. The worst moment of our lives.
"And when the Hospice was mentioned, you think 'I don't want my child going in there, because she probably isn't going to come out'.
"But we all found it such a fun-filled place.
"The quality of life for the kids, and therefore the parents, is limited, but everyone we came into contact with there was so fantastic – the kids, the parents, the doctors and the staff.
"It was an unbelievable place, and a place we'll never forget it."
Liddell was so moved by Martin House that, in Giorgina's memory, he and several other family members will be running the Great North Run half-marathon next month to generate much-needed funds.
"I want to raise as much money as I can, and I want the people there to be recognised for what they are doing," he explained.
"Martin House touched us for the rest of our lives and that's why I'm determined to flag up awareness for it.
"Everyone has been affected by this – me, my wife, our immediate families, our extended families, our friends, people who I have played football with – especially those with small kids.
"It's not just me doing the run. My brother, my sister-in-law, my mother-in-law, and a few others are doing it – all because they visited that place.
"Watching your daughter die in front of you is devastating. But these people looked after us 24/7, and they made it as smooth a passage as possible.
"It's an amazing place, totally inspiring, because people are dealing with things that really matter in life.
"I'll be doing fund-raising stuff for them for as long as I live. Whatever I can do."
And after a long and successful career in football, Liddell is hoping his standing and profile among the supporters of several clubs will enable him to raise as much money as possible.
"They need around 4million a year to run Martin House," he explained.
"Something like 10% of that comes from the government, and the rest is all donations and fund-raising.
"If I had 4million, I'd give it to them tomorrow. If I had all the money in the world, I'd give it to them.
"It's absolutely impossible to put a price on the work that they do, and if in some small way I can raise some money and awareness then I will do.
"I'm fortunate in that I have played football, and I need to use that profile.
"People look at footballers and think they have got privileged lifestyles, and they have. But bad things can happen to them too.
"It doesn't matter if you're me or Cristiano Ronaldo – all the money in the world wouldn't have saved little Giorgina. And that puts it all into perspective.
"What's really important in life is your family and your friends. Nothing else matters."
Since committing to take part in the Great North Run last month, Liddell admits the backing he has received from the football fraternity – and in particular the Wigan area – has been incredible.
"There have already been loads of donations from football fans, particularly from Wigan and Oldham, and I'd just like to thank those people," he added.
"I had my best years at Wigan - no doubt about it - and I enjoyed my career there the most out of all the clubs I played for.
"I had a fantastic rapport with the Wigan fans, because they could see that I gave them everything I could - and I will always have a special affinity with the place.
"If 1,000 people donate just a pound each, that's 1,000 – and that can buy all sorts of things for parents to do and kids to do.
"There just isn't enough money in the world for me and my wife to give to Martin House to repay them for what they did for us."
* To support Andy Liddell in his fund-raising efforts for Martin House Hospice For Children And Young People, visit http://www.justgiving.com/Andy-Liddell/
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Tuesday 07 February 2012
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