My name is Caroline Nettleton and I am a 41 year old Mum of 2 amazing boys.  Joel and Evan.  

On 31st January 2015, 13 days late, our gorgeous second son Evan was born, weighing a whopping 9lb 2oz.  We fell in love instantly and Evan was initially doing well.  He was discharged the following day, whereas I was quite poorly so wasn't discharged from hospital until the 4th February.  He wasn't looked at again, and despite me telling medical staff he wasn't feeding correctly we were sent home.  Don't get me wrong, we wanted to be home but I knew something wasn't right.  Evan didn't wake for feeds that night - I had to wake him to feed which he did reluctantly.  The next day, 5th February, our fantastic community midwife visited and immediately noticed Evan's 'yellow' colour.  She took a blood sample which Paul took to the hospital and less than 2 hours later we were called back in.  Leaving Joel, who was 2 at the time, was emotionally tough, but for Evan to get better we had to go.

Evan's jaundice level was 384 (350 is deemed safe) and he should have gone under the heat lamp.  For one reason or another, this didn't happen, but during the night I fed and fed him, and in the morning his level was 296 - home time?  Not quite.  Evan's infection level was registered at 15 (2 is deemed healthy enough to go home).  Evan was put on antibiotics for 48 hours, which turned into 5 days, and during this time, slowly his infection level came down.  15, 13, 11, 6, 3 and eventually 0.  On 11th February, at 10 days old, we took Evan home.  We could not have been happier, nor could Joel.  At our 6 week check up our Dr told me that the infection Evan had had, causing the jaundice was Strep B, and that he was a lucky baby boy.  His birth weight saved him.  Evan is 7 now and wow, what a boy!!  Watford FC mad, and such a sweet, kind, polite boy.  I am running the Edinburgh Marathon 2022 to raise funds for GBSS as too many people do not have our happy ending, and this charity does so much for families.  Please look through the pictures to see Evan now.  My target of £2675 is the number of days old Evan will be on the day I do the Edinburgh Marathon!!

Group B Streptococcus is the UK's most common cause of life-threatening infection in new born babies and of meningitis in babies under age 3 months. On average in the UK, at least-two babies a day develop a group B Strep infection -one baby a week dies from their GBS infection, and-one baby a week survives with long-term disabilities – physical, mental or both. Yet most group B Strep infections are preventable. Group B Strep Support informs families & health professionals about group B Strep to save tiny lives.