This is our son Joshua who was born 13 and a half weeks prematurely, weighing just 2lbs in July 2009. He was given just a 60 per cent chance of survival. In the traumatic weeks that followed, Joshua spent 107 days in three hospitals, in three different counties enduring a collapsed lung, six blood transfusions and four infections. He was ventillated at birth, stopped breathing once and was on oxygen until a week before he finally came home.

 

Nearly 3 years later Joshua is a happy toddler and is doing well despite a couple of weeks in hospital along the way.  It was a terrible time for all the family but thanks to the fantastic care he received in the three hospitals he is here today.

 

In hospital we were introduced to the charity Bliss which campaigns for Babies born too soon, too small or too sick. Bliss, the special care baby charity, provides vital support and care to premature and sick babies across the UK. Founded 30 years ago, they offer guidance and information at a critical time in families' lives.

They also fund ground-breaking research and campaign for babies to receive the best possible level of care regardless of when and where they are born.  One in every nine babies in the UK is born premature or sick. That is over 80,000 babies every year.

 

 

So now we are doing the 3 Peaks Challenge in aid of Bliss!

 

We would be grateful for any donations – large or small!

 

Nicky, Neil & Joshua Emsley

 

www.bliss.org.uk                                                                                              

Family Support Helpline

Freephone 0500 618140