Story
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;"><em>So.... final push. We are so so very chuffed at all the fabulous donations people have given..... but, we are humbled by the fact that as yet we havent quite raised enough to cover the AVERAGE cost of an incubator space for a baby on a ventilator for ONE day. Elspeth spent 19 days fully paralysed sedated and ventilated out of her 25 days in NICU and we really want to raise awareness and fab funds for Southmead Neonatal Intensive Care Unit so say Thank You.</em></span></strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><em>So with Elspeth we have 'painted' a Christmas Card (see 'photos'), I have ordered 1000 of them and they are sold in packs of 10 for £5. 100% of the money raised from each pack will be put in the pot to add to the total for Southmead NICU.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><em>So please help us reach (broach) the target of £4500. Free P+P !! x</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><em>THE WALK</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><em>I did it!!!! After 3 months of training, 386 miles walked in practice (most of those pushing the buggy) I set off yesterday at 8am.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><em>On what was one of the hottest October days since year dot, I walked 24miles to Southmead Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to say thank you for their wonderful work with Elspeth earlier this year.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><em>David and Katherine joined me for the last 10miles and Elspeth joined us for the last mile in the carrier. At the hospital we were met by both my Mum and David's mum and then the fabulous staff.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><em>I made it in 6hrs which I was immensely proud of in the heat!!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><em>David and I have been overwhelmed by peoples generousity to the cause and it seems our target is nearly in sight, but we really would love to make enough to cover one day of a babies care.... so please if you can, spread the word and help us just a little bit more. with much love alex x</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><em>THE TRAINING FOR THE WALK</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><em> </em></span><span style="color: #ff6600;"><em>OAKHILL TO SOUTHMEAD NICU</em></span>,</p>
<p>After a false start pushing the buggy too far too quick and realising I have rubbish posture and a sore back, I have rejigged the posture, got my self a training plan and it's decided,</p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><em>OCTOBER 2nd, 24.something MILES.</em></span></p>
<p>We welcomed our beautiful baby girl Elspeth into the world 18/01/2011 and before we knew it she was whisked away for three and a half weeks of hellish rollercoaster in neonatal intensive care(NICU). We started at Bath NICU, then transferred to St Micheals, then back to Bath, then, as she really diced with us she was transferred to Southmead NICU all the time fully paralysed, sedated and ventilated. It was two and half weeks before we got a cuddle.</p>
<p>All the units do amazing work, but for us Southmead really were beyond belief, their care extends beyond the babies but they also look after the parents and they helped us with <em>everything</em> from accomodation to understanding how we felt. They have amazing commitment to help mums continue expressing so one day you can go on to breastfeed your baby or if you cant they are trying to set up a milk bank- see the Precious Drops appeal. After we had had such a difficult start whizzing between different units they showed exemplary professionalism and were painfully honest, communicative, caring and friendly.</p>
<p>We cant quite put into words how grateful we are, everyday we look at our baby girl, now at home and thriving, and just marvel she is here, how lucky we are, and struggle to think how we can show our thanks to those AMAZING people who work at Southmead NICU, and help make sure they are able to continue providing first class care.</p>
<p>David has so far raised £1200 from the good people of Oakhill with his famous pub quizes, so I decided it was time to compete with<em> the </em>worlds most competitive man my husband and see if we could possibly beat him with my sponsored walk. On one of the pub quizes we did a NICU round and found that the average neonatal intensive care incubator space costs £1500 a day to run, more complex care runs at an average of £4500 a day. I could only dream to help provide the funds to care for another baby like Elspeth.</p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;">PLEASE DIG DEEP, DONATE, AND IF YOU FANCY JOINING ME FOR A SHORT STINT OF MORAL SUPPORT ON OCTOBER THE SECOND PLEASE GET IN TOUCH.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;">Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</span></p>
<p>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p>
<p>So please dig deep and donate now.</p>