Our own personal journey started 4 years ago on 4th January 2015 when our little boy Elliot was born at 36 weeks weighing 5lb12oz, he had a heart murmur, jaundice and contracted pneumonia. 

The amazing staff at NGH (Northampton General Hospital) noticed something was wrong and whipped him away from me in the middle of the night. He went straight to the babies special care unit known as Gosset ward, where the team there pumped him with antibiotics and saved his life. We went home 10 days later. It was and still is one of the scariest times of my life. 

3 years later on 20th March 2018 I went into premature labour 8 weeks early and naturally had our beautiful twins. With around 10 medical professionals in the room Harriet and Oliver were born 4 minutes apart weighing 3lb7 and 3lb10. 

Andrew from Gosset had to take our babies straight from us to look after them. I went into theatre to have a stuck placentae removed. 

10 hours after giving birth I was allowed to see my babies for the first time. 

Nothing ever prepares you for being wheeled into a special care baby unit, for seeing your tiny little bundles in incubators connected to wires and tubes, for the bleeping of the monitors, for not being able to touch or pick your babies up, for the alarms that go off when something is not quite right!

Harriet and Oliver were laying there, covered in medical equipment. I couldn't pick them up, give them a cuddle and protect them like a mummy should. I felt helpless. I just sat in the wheel chair staring at these glass boxes that housed my babies. 

The nurse approached me and explained absolutely everything that had happened and what was going on. They had already explained this to my husband but wanted to make sure I understood. Oliver was having a little trouble breathing and had fluid on his lungs but they were both doing incredibly well.

The nurse told my husband to get me some food from their parents room that had been set up by other parents and asked me to get some sleep as it wouldn't do anyone any good if I didn't. She was amazing. Gentle, reassuring. I knew my babies were in good hands. 

A few days later we were sat with our babies, Tim (my husband) told one of the nurses Nicola that I wasn't feeling great. She took one look at me and said “ You need to be seen” I said I was fine but she told me she really wouldn't be happy if I went home without being checked out first. I had a very high fever and was going down hill quickly. Turns out I had got sepsis from mastitis.

This amazing woman who looks after our babies has not only been saving their lives but she saved me too. I was admitted and put on 2 types of IV antibiotics and 1 oral. They timed these so I could still go up to NICU and be with my babies as long as I went back to ward and rested inbetween. If it wasn't for Nicola on Gosset ward, I could have gone home and my babies and other children might have been growing up without their mum. I will always be forever grateful.

For 4 long weeks we was at the hospital every day watching the nurses and doctors look after our babies and care for them in a way a mother or father cares for their child. They taught us how to do their observations and change nappies through portholes in an incubator. How to draw fluid from their stomachs and how to tube feed. We met some amazing people and everyday it felt like we were with family. Doctors came round every morning at the same time and told us about their progress. 

Our babies went from strength to strength and came home just in time for their daddies birthday. 

The amazing staff on Gosset ward saved my babies more than once, they saved my life too. Everyday they are faced with new challenges but they continue to smile and support every person whether that be parent or child that comes through their doors. I don't believe they can ever get enough gratitude for what they do. 

Our journey was relatively simple compared to some and more complicated than others but in the end every journey through them doors is difficult. The staffs support is second to none. 

I am getting a team together to take part in The Color Rush MK on 1st June 2019. 

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL SEND YOU THE REGISTRATION LINK. THE MORE PEOPLE WHO TAKE PART THE MORE MONEY WE RAISE. 

tanyacharter@hotmail.com

Please help us raise money for this amazing unit who saves tiny lives everyday. 

10 People taking part so far....

Tim Charter, Tanya Charter, Jaime Mains, Paula Frost, Daniella La Porta, Dean Leasley, Kirsty Huizinga, Dennis, Huizinga, Jules Duck, Ethan La Porta.

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