Fundraisers and families who support Nottingham’s poorly babies unit get special thank-you

Fundraisers who support the Nottingham unit helping ill and premature babies are getting a special thank-you from a hospital charity.

In the last year alone Nottingham Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, at the Queen’s Medical Centre, has helped care for more than 1,000 premature and sick new born babies.

The unit provides specialist treatment for the babies as well as supporting their parents and families.

Last year the Tiny Babies Appeal helped raise more than £162,000 for the unit with the help of families, hospital staff, companies and individual donors.

Equipment funded through the charity includes a specialist cerebral function monitor which monitors babies’ brain function giving medical teams crucial information which guides treatment.

The charity also funded refurbishment of the parent’s sitting room and Transitional Care bedrooms and continues to provide complementary therapies to parents and carers to help them cope in very difficult situations.

To thank fundraisers the Hospital Charity has invited 28 families who have raised more than £27,000 for the Neonatal Unit to attend an afternoon tea event at the Council House on Friday (November 18).

Rebecca Bennett has been fundraising for the charity since her daughter Lucy was born 24 weeks prematurely in 2007.

She said: “Lucy was born prematurely weighing just over 1 pound which wasn’t expected at all.

“We were on the unit for 120 days and the staff were fabulous – they provided excellent support and did little things to make life easier for parents.

“Without them Lucy wouldn’t be here today.”

Cecilia has made an excellent recovery since leaving the ward
Cecilia has come on ‘leaps and bounds’ since leaving the hospital

Sean Cann and Lauren Dale are another couple whose child was helped by the ward.

Their daughter Cecilia was born with a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) in May.

Mr Cann said: “We were referred to the hospital 10 weeks before Cecilia’s birth when she was diagnosed with a CDH.

“During our time there we received so much support and were looked after, communicated with and assured by nurses and staff.

“They made what was the most stressful time of our lives more bearable.”

Cecilia left the hospital at the end of June and has been making an excellent recovery at home.

Mr Cann said: “Since Cecilia left the ward she’s come on leaps and bounds.

“She still has to wear a nasal tube but her check-ups so far have been satisfactory.

“I cannot speak highly enough of the Neonatal ward and its staff – we wouldn’t be here without them.”

The Lord Mayor Councillor Mohammed Saghir, who himself experienced the heartbreak of losing his son at three months old after a premature birth, will also attend tomorrow’s event and join Neonatal staff, parents and families for a Little Lights Walk around Old Market Square.

On Thursday the Council House will be lit up in purple to mark World Prematurity Day.

Premature birth is the biggest killer of babies in the UK.

Tragically, around 1,200 babies die in the UK each year after being born too soon and many others who survive a very early birth develop lifelong problems such as cerebral palsy, blindness and learning difficulties.

More information on premature birth and World Prematurity Day 2016 can be found on their website.

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