Olive was born fighting for her life when she arrived via caesarian section at 27+ 1 weeks gestation (babies are usually born around 40 weeks). She weighed just 975 grams (2 pounds). She was kept alive via the careful intensive care of some incredible Drs & nurses and lifesaving medical equipment.

After 110 days of the most harrowing and gut-wrenching days of our lives which included 3 hospitals and a medical history of issues that spanned 2 volumes she was eventually allowed to come live with us at home, but on supplemental oxygen and a nasal gastric feeding tube.

In May 2018, 2 years after her hospital discharge date she was eventually released from her High-Risk Neonatal consultant at East Surrey hospital.

Her full story can be found here:- https://olivesappeal.org/olives-story/

The journey was mammoth and a marathon and one that we will never forget. Since the back end of the year Olive was born we started working with the staff in the NNU in an attempt to help other parents who suffer the same worrying and unexpected start to their baby's lives. 

In 2019 the hospital launched Olives Appeal in an attempt to raise as many charitable funds as possible for a brand new neonatal unit and all the equipment needed to make it the best that it can be for babies born in East Surrey which are around 500 babies every year!

This year we are taking on our biggest challenge both physically and financially for Olive's "very own" Appeal. As a family (including Olive!) we are running Run Reigate on 19  September.

AND

We (not the kids) will also be taking on the Virtual London Marathon on 3 October (Keata's 1st) in a BIG PUSH to raise money for a brand new top-of-the-range Baby Leo incubator for the NNU. These incubators support babies like Olive who are considered micro-preemies and who need absolutely every bit of lifesaving support they can get to get strong and home to their Mums & Dads.

We would love to raise at least 10% of the cost of one of these.

The incubators cost £26,000 each, and details about them can be accessed here:  https://www.draeger.com/en_uk/Hospital/Products/Thermoregulation-and-Jaundice-Management/Neonatal-Closed-Care/Draeger-Babyleo-TN500