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Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page and read my story, I really need your help. I would like to raise some money for the baby unit that looked after our little Edward before he died, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Ashford (NICU). They do amazing work there and give such fantastic support to parents at really difficult times. Edward was born on 10th August 2002. He was delivered at 41 weeks, so a little overdue and was a healthy 8lbs 10ozs. In fact he was a completely healthy and beautiful baby boy. Sadly, before he was born, he inhaled massive amounts of meconium (baby poo) and so when he was born he quickly deteriorated and was transferred to the NICU (then based at Canterbury). Despite the amazing efforts of the staff on the unit, he died 20 hours later. As he had been born by caesarean I was still at Ashford during this time and never got to hold him before he died. My grief was and is indescribable. Thirteen months later, our beautiful daughter was born healthy and well. She was and is an absolute joy. Another thirteen months later our second daughter was born. She was delivered at 35 weeks which isn’t particularly early and we weren’t expecting any real complications. However, shortly after she was born her immature lungs caused her to have breathing difficulties and she was transferred to the NICU. We were devastated and scared but the staff were fantastic. Many of them remembered Edward as his death had been so rare and they were all so kind. She spent 2 weeks on the Unit and then we were able to bring her home. She made a full recovery and she too is an amazing little girl. Another eighteen months later we had another boy (yes we have bought a telly now!). He was born at 35 weeks, but suffered no real problems and needed just a week under the care of the NICU staff. We now have our beautiful children and are so lucky ... and we never forget. Now it’s my turn to try and give something back. The NICU would like to create a garden area so that as babies are getting better and are off oxygen they can be taken outside for some fresh air and sunshine. This will also provide a tranquil area where parents can go and still be near their precious little ones. Its hard to explain the stress and trauma experienced by parents whose newborn bundles of joy are taken away and placed in scary machines, undergoing procedures that are hard to understand. You daren’t leave them for a minute in case something happens, so to be able to step outside into a beautiful garden area to enable you to carry on would be an amazing thing. Please, please help me to raise money for them. I intend to do a number of things to support this cause and hope you can help me? I joined Slimming World after Christmas and have lost a stone so far, Yeeha! Starting on the 1st March they are having a sponsored slim over the next 12 weeks. I'm honoured that they have chosen as a group to take on my suggestion of the NICU. So far I have a total of £10 pledged for every pound I lose, fantastic thank you. I’m also going to be trying to raise money through my face painting. I’ve some other ideas and will keep you posted as these develop. Thank you all, so so much. Have a look at <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/archizzi">www.justgiving.com/archizzi</a>  I promise regular weight loss updates! Claire x 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.

Please help the Ashford Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Please help the Ashford Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

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