Robin Underwood
Ethan's page
Fundraising for Ashford & St Peter’s Charitable Trust – Little Roo Neonatal Fund
Story
Ethan James Underwood: 07/11/2010 to 08/12/2010.
Our beautiful boy Ethan James Underwood was born on a bright November morning in St Peter's Hospital, Chertsey. He passed away peacefully on a starlit night in December, aged 31 days. If you've got a moment, we'd like to tell you a little about his short but happy life.
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Our 20 week scan was supposed to be a moment of joy - when we finally got to discover whether baby was a boy or girl. Instead, we were given the news that he (thereafter Ethan) had a malformed brain and might not be able to move, feed or even breath. We had to live with this news for several months, not knowing whether he would survive from one day to the next. He did survive the pregnancy (after all, Ethan means 'strong') and even surprised us by arriving one month early.
His caesarean birth was a frightening time for both of us, as we didn't know whether he would be able to breath. Ethan needed a little help for the first day, but was taken off of the ventilator on day two. It was a fabulous moment to see him moving and breathing by himself.
The next day Ethan was whisked across London to St George's Hospital for surgery on his bowel. It was there that we learnt that he would never be able to feed and that his time with us would be short. After one week of recovery he had another ambulance ride, this time back to St Peter's.
At St Peter's the nurses and doctors made every effort to make our little boy's life comfortable while allowing him to spend as much time as possible with mummy and daddy. They taught us how to care for his many needs and allowed us to take him into the parent's accommodation in the daytime (his 'home'), before taking him back into ICU at night (his 'nursery'!). Ethan loved having cuddles, stories and music, and the nurses were more than happy to oblige!
When he eventually became too tired to carry on we held him in our arms and said goodbye, for now at least.
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We would like to especially thank the nurses and doctors (Ethan's Honorary Aunties and Uncles!) at St Peter's for their love and care towards our baby boy. Without your help we would have not been able to spend our wonderful month with Ethan, from which we draw many happy memories. You are all very special people!
So, please give generously to help other babies like Ethan.
Love, Anna and Robin.