On the 5th December 2017 Charlie Peter was born at 5.12am. He was not breathing and completely limp. He was resuscitated 3 times before his heart started and was given an oxygen tube. After 4 hours in the RAH in Paisley been worked on by the amazing doctors he was collected by the transport team who arrived with a “cooling mat” and transferred him to the Children’s Hospital in Glasgow. Charlie was “cooled”. He was kept on this mat, sedated for 3 days keeping his core temperature to 33C. The purpose was to rest his body and reduce brain injury.  This cooling therapy has saved Charlie’s life and despite some damage to the right hand side of his brain at the moment there are no signs that this damage will have any negative impact on his life. We are hopeful his brain has made new pathways to overcome this damage but without the cooling therapy the damage could have been significantly worse. 

Our aim to raise enough money to buy another cooling mat that will go between all three children hospitals in Glasgow. Wherever it is needed it will be transported and used on any baby who may need it. These mats cost around £2000 but as we have experienced and as the research shows this piece of equipment is vital in the recovery process of babies who suffer from asphyxia. 

We hope that no family will have to experience what we did but if they do and are offered therapeutic hypothermia using Charlie’s mat that it will help their baby too.