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Why am I riding from Lands End to John O`Groats in a day?

I`m riding to raise money for the neonatal unit, who fortunately saved Conor one of my identical twin grandsons, but sadly after working tirelessly for 129 days LOST the battle to save Conor`s brother Rory.

Conor and Rory Stott were born at 25 weeks gestation on 29th September 2012 at The Royal Oldham Hospital. They are Zoe & Paul Smeeton's 2nd and 3rd Grandsons. They were cared for alongside their parents and family by the staff at TROH Neonatal Unit. Rory lived for 129 days thanks to the work and research that the unit undertakes. To thank the staff, as well as to remember Rory, Paul Rory's Pop will be riding his motorbike from Lands End to John O'Groats on 28th September 2013 - 837 miles.

The staff at the neonatal unit gave Rory 129 days of life after he was born.

129 days he had with his parents, brother and all his extended family.

129 days that we all got to know him.

Enabled him to have a Christmas Day with his Brother, Mammy and Daddy.

Paul will set off from Bitzforbikes Ltd. Castleton on Friday 27th September, returning to Rochdale from John O'Groats completing  a distance of almost  2000 miles,on Sunday 29th September to a family birthday party for Conor.

 

Paul hopes to raise money for the Neonatal Unit at The Royal Oldham Hospital.

Does fundraising have to be the result of a tradgedy?

No, it shouldn`t be. The neonatal unit have sucess` with babies surviving and developing into healthy children and adults, however all the expertise and time given to one baby needs to be supplemented with funds raised separately for things like family rooms. Baby equipment. Breast pumps. Refridgerators. Quiet lounges where Mothers can go and relax etc.

Our daughter Emma was totally committed to breast feeding and using a breast pump, lots of guidance and support from people that know how, she produced enough milk for both boys to be tube fed, finally being rewarded with breast feeding both boys herself.

Conor was born first, weighing 2lb 2oz, followed by Rory at 1lb 7oz ! Only 25weeks gestation they were given a 60-40% chance of survival.

Immediately taken from their mother, tubes inserted into their tiny bodies. Intravenous lines, nasogastric and ventilation.

The start of a `wild mouse ride. Elated one day despairing the next.

The Doctors tried everything to get Rory to breathe on his own, different levels of oxygen pumped in, a special hat to hold the tubes in place.Rory was a battler, he fought like a soldier-so hard to keep up himself. The wednesday before his death the staff contacted Emma and Justin informing them Rory needed to go back on the ventilator. His tired little body was swollen from fighting. It was unlikely he would now come off the ventilator.

Emma and Justin were up at the unit almost every waking hour. When they did go home to sleep, they always telephoned before getting into bed. In the morning before they returned, again they would ring. The staff were always there to support them. Often when Emma set her alarm to get up and use her breast pump, she would get an overwhelming urge to speak to them about the boys. On the friday night,as they were getting into bed they said Rory had deterioated.

Saturday 2nd February dawned a lovely spring day. They travelled up to the unit with heavy hearts. Rory was in a small room just off the main intensive care area. All his observations recorded by the staff confirmed he was shutting down. He couldn`t continue to fight. It was too painful. The staff were skilled in just knowing how to handle the situation facing them. Rory was fed for the last time though one of his tubes so he would not be hungry then the ventilator and all the tubes were removed. Rory was placed in his parents outstretched, protective arms, for the last time............. There he was allowed to die with such dignity.

 

So please dig deep and donate now.