Hello everyone, thank you for taking the time to read why I am raising money for the Jessop Wing hospital in Sheffield.

On the 28th August 2019 at 22weeks pregnant, Bec’s waters broke spontaneously. Preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) happens in less that 5% of pregnancies and the main concerns with this happening is that the baby’s lungs cannot develop without the fluid to swallow, both mother and baby are at risk of infection and are at risk of going into labour prematurely which comes with many other health issues.
At the time, the viability age was 24weeks which meant if Eva was born in the next week which they predicted, the doctors would not be obligated to resuscitate her.. Therefore, our initial options were to wait for her to come naturally or to terminate the pregnancy.
We felt this was an impossible decision to make, but the hospital we was under could not facilitate babies born before 28weeks.

This is where Jessops came in.
They accepted Bec at 23weeks and took over her and Eva’s care.
Bec managed to stay pregnant a further 10 weeks with weekly appointments, scans and a couple of hospital admissions.

In the early hours of the 7th November, Eva was born via emergency c-section due to the placenta rupturing. Bec haemorrhaged requiring 2 consultants to stop the bleeding. She lost a lot of blood, needing blood transfusions and a temporary balloon in her uterus for 24hrs to stop her from bleeding.

Eva was born lifeless but eventually let out her first cry after 9 minutes, before she was intubated and taken to the neonatal unit where the next stage of our journey began.

The first few days were critical, her tiny lungs were underdeveloped as predicted and the trauma of being born prematurely and the placenta rupturing had taken its toll on her. She was ventilated on an oscillator for 6 days and required 2x doses of surfactant and nitric oxide to help her breathe. She spent 2 weeks in intensive care and eventually after nearly 5 weeks was able to come home.

During this time they provided me and Bec with accommodation on the neonatal unit, including access to a kitchen with basic food.. for free!

Without Jessops specialist equipment, drugs, knowledge and experience Eva would not have survived.
Without the staff support we would not have coped.
Without the charities we wouldn’t have been able to stay with her.

Words cannot describe what the staff on the neonatal unit have done for us, the care they provide is gold standard. Not only did they care for Eva, they looked after us as a family.

We owe them so much and thank you will never be enough which is why on the 29th March I am running a half marathon to raise money for them.
Any donation will make all the difference.. you never know when you, your relative or your friend might need their services too.

Thanks again for reading our story.