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On 20th July 2009 my Close Friend Andy's wife, Lisa, was scheduled to deliver their second child by caesarean section at Hinchingbrooke Hospital. The operation was a success and at 09.53am their baby son, Lucas, was born - a beautiful brother for their two year old daughter Lexie.

Lucas was born three weeks early due to some concerns about his wife's high blood pressure. Still, given that, at 37 weeks, the baby would be considered full term, they were expecting no complications. However, within a minute or so of him being born, the midwife on hand immediately noticed Lucas wasn't breathing normally and called for assistance from a doctor. 

Before they had a chance to cuddle him, Lucas was bundled up and whisked away to the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU).  The doctors later explained that he had 'wet lung' - and he was struggling to keep his lungs inflated by himself, and was exhausted as a result. His restricted breathing was preventing sufficient oxygen circulating round his body, putting him in a critical condition. But he was in the right place - for the next week the wonderful nurses tended to Lucas with such care and love, helping him to breathe easier in order for his little body to recover from his rude awakening.

Lisa was in the darkest possible place - alone in hospital, recovering from delivering a baby she was unable to care for. Despite being busy tending to up to 13 other babies at the same time, the dedicated nurses, who work a gruelling 12 hour shift, went the extra mile to give Lisa so much love and support, often during the early hours of the morning. Having their reassuring arms around her was, as Lisa describes it, like being hugged by an angel.

Everyday we thank our lucky stars for not only the amazing people who nursed Lucas back to health, but also for the fact that there was room for him at Hinchingbrooke - you hear so many stories of babies having to be transferred to other hospitals due to lack of space.

Lucas is improving everyday and when he is old enough to talk I'm sure he'll thank all the staff for the help they provided. Long may the unit continue to help newborn babies and parents.

THE AIM

We want your help to raise money to help SCBU to have the most up to date equipment possible, to continue to have space for as the  tiny and fragile patients who need their care, and to help make the unit feel comfortable and homely for parents, babies and siblings. The money will make an enormous difference to the lives of families across Huntingdon and South Cambridgeshire.

We never thought we would need them, like so many parents.

Each year around 2,500 babies are born at Hinchingbrooke Maternity Unit, and around 10 per cent of these are then transferred to the SCBU where they receive specialist care. Some will have been born prematurely while others are ill or have suffered complications during the birth. The money would go towards new equipment like new incubators, breathing monitors and breathing machines, essential kit for looking after sick babies.

Our children deserve the best start in life and the staff at Hinchingbrooke are already working to achieve this. We want your help to ensure the work can continue, but with the latest equipment available, in the best possible surroundings.

   

THE CHALLENGE

My close friend Andy Oxborough asked me if I would help him raise money for the 'Special Baby Care Unit' (SCBU) and as the Proud Godparent to Lucas I accepted immediately  - and then I was told what I will have to do........... I, will attempt to cycle from St. Neot in Cornwall, to our home town of St. Neots in Cambridgeshire. The journey is approximately 310 miles and will take 4 days of cycling - 7 hours each day. We will leave St. Neot on 31st March 2010 and travel approximately 116 miles on day one, day two approximately 96 miles, day three, 52 miles and day four, 46 miles - arriving back in St.Neots to a welcoming party on Sunday 4th April. Any costs involved with carrying out the challenge will be met by ourselves - every last penny of the money raised will go directly to the cause. However, if you are in a position to offer anything to support the challenge, such as cycling equipment, accommodation on route, clothing or refreshments, we would welcome this a great deal.

 

 

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