I’m not sure that there is much that can prepare you before walking into a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). But that is what Tasha and I faced last year after Freddie, our second child, arrived three months early following an emergency delivery. He was then transferred to St. Michaels Hospital in Bristol.

So, there we were less than 24 hours later, in a different city, away from our 4-year-old daughter, in a hospital we had never been to, about to walk through a door into a world completely unknown.

We are very lucky to have the love and support of family and friends, but ultimately only the two of us could make that step, which we did whilst trying to hold each other up.

As soon as we went in, we were faced with an avalanche of information from different healthcare professionals, speaking in a language we had not yet learnt. All the time transfixed by the tiniest person fighting very hard to be with us.

It is terrifying, overwhelming and disorientating, all at the same time. But, thankfully, next to our tiny human’s incubator, was a bag from a charity called ‘Cots for Tots’, full of things that we had no idea we needed, such as shower gel, warm socks, a freezer bag, snacks, a pen and notebook and tissues. It may seem like a simple thing but when your world is turned upside down, it was as if a hand was being placed on your shoulder telling you; “we’ve been here, we know what will help.”

Which turned out to be just the case.

The ‘Cots for Tots’ charity, not only provides those essential bags, but also accommodation, right across from the hospital, so that families, like our own, can all stay together, and be near their poorly baby.

We were so grateful not to have to travel every day between Bristol and Swindon. ‘Cots for Tots’ also help to organise day trips, which meant that Freddie’s big sister had a fun time whilst we were spending so much time at the hospital.

Ultimately, we spent 10 weeks in Bristol hospital and then another 10 weeks back in our local hospital in Swindon. The help we received from the charity was invaluable and will stay with us forever.

Now, late last year, when I was at my most sleep deprived, my very good friend Alex suggested that taking on the challenge of a Tough Mudder would be a good idea. Every other time he has suggested this I have had the good mind to politely turn him down. But this time, somehow, it seemed like a good idea. So, I am doing this to try and raise some money for ‘Cots for Tots’, so that someone else can have that hand on their shoulder as they face some of their most difficult days.

If you have got a spare couple of pounds then I would greatly appreciate your support. And if you are not sure what a Tough Mudder is you can check it out here: https://toughmudder.co.uk/about-us/