When new-born babies need specialist, often lifesaving, medical care at birth it can be a traumatic and difficult time for parents and families.  In 2023, SSNAP will be celebrating 41 years of supporting parents and their premature sick babies at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford - providing both emotional and practical support, 365 days a year, being a life-line at a time when parents need us most.  We fund essential medical life-saving equipment, research, and support the amazing NHS staff on the neonatal unit with training and study days, to enable them to continue to provide the very best of care.  Please join our amazing 'SSNAP Superhero Oxford Half Marathon team,' and help us in our appeal to raise £100,000 for SSNAP.  By running for SSNAP, you will be joining not only the best team in town, but will be helping make a difference for over 1000 babies and their families that we support each year, from across Oxfordshire and the UK.

In the early months of 2013, we were delighted to find out
that we were pregnant with our first child. Preparations began! Clothes were
bought and a nursery was decorated and equipped! 

Everything seemed fine until Mum felt poorly and was asked
to visit hospital, "just to be on the safe side".

Mum received lots of checks and next thing we hear is
"Baby is on its way!". 

The horror, the surprise, but way more than anything.... the
worry!

Gloucester Royal hospital worked tirelessly to ensure they
slowed baby down whilst they searched for a bed in a hospital elsewhere that
was able to facilitate and support such an early pregnancy.

A couple of days had passed and then suddenly we were
informed we needed to pack up and that we'd be heading off to John Radcliffe
Hospital Oxford.

We arrived at JRH and from the start knew that we were in
safe hands. Friendly staff who made us feel safe, reassured and in the know
right from the start.

JRH knew that baby needed to come out so proceeded with
everything that was needed to be done to ensure baby had a safe arrival.

The next few hours to be honest are such a blur but I know
I've never seen so many nurses and doctors in one room before.

Baby was safely delivered weighing just 1lb 11oz! At the
time I didn't quite realise just how light this was. I knew from seeing him
that he wasn't your average size baby but the mixed feelings of, I'm now a
father, is everything going to be okay, where are they taking him seemed to
dismiss just how small he was.

We were told they needed to take him away to help him and
that was it. No first-born cuddles. No "first family" photos, apart
from a small dot of a baby wrapped up in foil having wires and tubes attached
and inserted.

Later on in the day we were able to go and see baby in his
flash incubator with wires, cables, TV's and monitors all linked up to him.

There and then we named baby. Joseph George Wellington.

We remained in Oxford for just over 6 weeks. Watching Joseph
grow day by day.  It wasn't all plain
sailing as Joseph encountered many problems and hurdles along the way. Blood
transfusions were needed, potential septicaemia, a heart valve that wouldn't
close are just to mention a few.

We were so thankful to be supported by everyone at Oxford
during this time.  As new babies came
into the unit, accommodation in the hospital was prioritised to their
parents.  We were faced with the prospect
of having nowhere to sleep.  One thing
was for certain.  We were not leaving
Oxford. We were even contemplating sleeping in the car one evening.  We wanted to be by Josephs side as much as we
could.  Thanks to JRH and SSNAP we were
able to stay in the Hospital flat as well as the house situated just outside of
the hospital grounds.

We will be forever grateful for the nurses who didn't just
care for Joseph but also comforted us in some very troubling times. The Doctors
and Consultants who made huge decisions in Joseph's best interests. And of
course, SSNAP who without their support we wouldn't have been able to be by our
babies side every day.  For the pastoral
care that we received and for making what can be a traumatising experience and
time, a much more relaxed, comforted and cared for experience.

Joseph turns 10 in September this year and I wanted to take
this age milestone to celebrate, be thankful and to give back just a small part
of a huge part of my life that was helped by SSNAP.

Joseph is such a caring young man who makes anyone who meets
him smile.  He excels at school and is
definitely a musician in the making!

I look forward to supporting SSNAP by taking part in the
Oxford Half Marathon.

Thank you.