To all the friends and family of Joey Patterson,
We are raising money for The Newborn Appeal at Liverpool Women's hospital. Most of you may already know our son Joseph (Joey) was born 10 weeks premature after a difficult pregnancy in which we were told Joey had little chance of survival because my waters broke very early in pregnancy and the amniotic fluid is vital for lung development. So despite the fact that I continued to carry Joey for a futher 12 weeks in which he continued to grow, we were informed that his lungs may not be enough to sustain life. He was born at Warrington Hospital in very poor condition with a condition called pulmonary hypoplasia (hard, rigid, immature lungs) but they managed to ventilate him which unfortunately resulted in a pneumothorax (punctured lung). He was immediately transferred to Liverpool Women's hosptial which has a level 3 Neonatal Unit and takes sick newborn's from all over the country. It was here he received specialist care using specialist equipment such as the high frequency ventilator which I believe may have saved his life. After 3 weeks of their care at which time he was stabilized and breathing by himself with oxygen therapy, he was transferred back to Warrington hospital to grow bigger and stronger. He then came home to us at 2 months old (3 weeks before his due date) on oxygen therapy. Today Joey is 8 months old and an absolute superstar who's doing brilliantly and has recently come off his oxygen completely. This is largely thanks to the care he received at both Liverpool women's and Warrington Hosptital, to whom we are eternally grateful for giving us the greatest gift of all, Joey. This is not to say that Joey can't take some of the credit for being the amazing, determined, inspiring little person that he is and to come through so much adversity and be as strong as he is today. This is why we want to celebrate both him and the hospitals that saved him by having a big party for Joey's 1st birthday and trying to raise money for the neonatal units. Our only aim is to raise what we can to go towards helping fund the specialist care, equipment, staff and resources that take care of sick babies and try to deliver them safely to their loved ones. If it even helps just one little baby like our Joey then we feel we have given just a little back to what they gave us. To all of you, all we ask in helping us is that as Joey has everything he needs and wants, instead of birthday gifts, a small donation in his honor to the appeal will hopefully go so much further. No amount is too small, just a pound could go towards buying that one extra piece of vital equipment which could save one baby's life. Thank you for taking the time to read our story, and we look forward to celebrating with you.
Ian, Beth, Lucas & Joey xxxxxx
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page and if anyone wants to donate prizes for Joey's charity raffle please contact me at bethjames123@yahoo.co.uk. Thanks.
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