Every year 60,000 babies are born premature in the UK. Little did I know that my baby was going to be one of these numbers. The journey only begins there, in June 2021 I was having a normal day, it was summer, the country was upbeat because of the euros. However, in a routine scan at hospital, I was told the only heart that wasn’t beating properly was my babies. 

For many parents, they are handed their baby with joy. At 29 weeks, weighing just 870g our baby was taken away to the Neonatal unit where his fight to survive began. We didn’t get a chance to see him when he came. Eventually when we did, it was a battle of emotions we never knew we had, seeing only patches of his skin. He was wired up and completely covered in breathing equipment, and unnatural apparatus we had never seen before. He didn’t have a name, there was no time or space to think about it.  

Countless cannulas, blood transfusions, infections, jaundice, sepsis are only a few of what was faced for us and the little lives on the Neonatal ward. Hearing the monitors alarming and being told your baby is having to fight to live and face awful medical issues was how my life endured every day for months. He eventually pulled through and on the 13 September 2021, he finally came home, a relief all round for us and our families.

The journey brought a lot of pain, sorrow, and happiness but its true brutality is something that takes a long time to overcome. It’s an experience that, we could never have imagined or planned for. We are extremely grateful that we were able to bring Noah home, many in Neonatal are not so fortunate.

Barnet Hospital’s Neonatal unit saved Noah’s life, looking after him day and night. They became family and we will forever be indebted to all the wonderful doctors and nurses who work there, we saw the passion and dedication they have for these little lives. Trying their best to replicate everything, including the love that your baby needs to survive outside the womb. Without the care of Neonatal, many babies wouldn’t be here today. One day we will tell Noah about his journey, and just how brave and courageous he was. He taught us a lot, and gave us strength to get through, we now believe that nothing is impossible. 

If you ever want to see commitment to save lives, this is the place that does it. The money you give will help to fund equipment, and other everyday essentials to support the staff in looking after the lives of sick babies. 

We will be completing a 5k evening walk, lighting up night with Noah, alongside many family and friends. We will walk through central London, passing many of London’s iconic places.