***Update 27th May 2014: WE DID IT! Yesterday we braved the rain and completed the swim in 36 minutes (Sophie) and 38 minutes (Linda) - thank you all for your support and donations!***

***DUE TO CONTINUING DANGEROUS SEA CONDITIONS THE POOLE SWIM HAS BEEN CANCELLED; WE WILL NOW TAKE PART IN THE ETON SWIM ON 26TH MAY 2014 WHICH IS THE NEXT OPEN WATER SWIM***

Thank you to everyone that has donated so far; we WILL be doing a swim...

We are taking part in the Poole Open Water Swim on September 28th 2013. We have to swim 1500m (1 mile) in the sea, whatever the weather, in under an hour! 

This is to raise money for First Touch - the charity supporting the neonatal unit at St George's Hospital. This is where baby Emmeline, spent the first 4 and a half months of her life.

Emmeline's story:

Emmeline was born at 28 weeks plus 2 days, weighing just 450g (not quite one pound).

We knew she was going to be early and very small but we were not prepared for just how tiny and delicate she was. Her skin was too fragile to touch and her eyes were still fused shut. 

It was a very hard time, no one can tell you what is going to happen. Each baby is different and every day feels like a lifetime, watching and worrying through the incubator walls that they are ok.

But there were good days, especially when her mummy could have skin to skin cuddles for hours.

Emmeline progressed slowly but surely over the next few weeks, her breathing improved and she gained weight.

However, at 9 weeks old and weighing just two pounds, Emmeline contracted a bowel disease called NEC. She became very ill very quickly and we didn't know if she would make it through the night. Antibiotics didn't work and she needed a life saving operation. Thankfully this was a success and was what she needed to move forward.

After another tough 11 weeks she was allowed to come home on oxygen.

She is now thriving, is great fun and has a very forceful personality!!  We have been told this is not uncommon in prem babies - they have had to fight from day 1 after all.

Emmeline's family will forever be grateful to the amazing nurses, doctors, surgeons, Bobbie and Lyndsey at the neonatal unit in St George's hospital, Tooting.  Without them, Emmeline would not be here.

About First Touch

First Touch fund medical equipment family welfare schemes and specialist nurse training at the neonatal unit in St George's Hospital, Tooting. All donations to this wonderful charity help this fabulous unit, its babies, families and it's nursing staff and are hugely appreciated.