<p>Hello there!</p> <p>Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</p> <p>As most of you will know, there is a very real reason for my chosing the 'tinylife' charity. He's called Jonathan. He's 15 years old now, and I can honestly say, that there has not been a single day, since he was born, when I haven't recalled something about those first months of his life,and how lucky we are, that he survived.</p> <p>Jonathan was born in July 1996. He should have been born at the end of October 1996, and bar Christmas mornings,it has been the only time he has been early for anything....</p> <p>I was just under 26 weeks pregnant at the time. I woke up early that morning with a sore tummy and by 11.25am, a very concerned David had phoned the doctor who had an ambulance outside our front door at 11.30am. I most certainly did not have any idea, that I would &nbsp;become a 'mummy' half an hour later!</p> <p>The next few days were a complete daze for David and I. Lots of different people,with different types of information. All very helpful, all well intentioned, and all so kindly. Doctors, nurses, midwives, clerical staff, pastoral care, consultants, counsellors. Unfortunately, in our shock, a lot of the advise and information, went over our heads.</p> <p>Apart from being horrified at how close we were, to losing our baby, we were just as stunned, that the medical world had all sorts of technology that could help, or indeed force, his fight for survival.</p> <p>And survive,he did. At 3 weeks old, and weighing 2lbs, he was taken to Belfast Royal Hospital for heart surgery, and still, proudly wears a fairly impressive battle scar, for the experience, today.A badge of acheivement from our incredible world of medicine.</p> <p>Jonathan came home 84 turbulant days after he was born. I can still remember the day. We arrived at the hospital in our 'Sunday best' to collect him. After we were given the official 'all clear' a midwife, as per their tradition, carried him in her arms, and walked out of the doors of the neo-natal unit, and took him,with us (bursting with excitement) trailing in her wake, down to the main entrance of the hospital. At that point, she handed him over to me. We walked outside to the car...alone at last with our wee bundle. Our son was 84 days old, and we had never been on our own with him...it was finally safe to be. That is how fit and healthy, all those medical advances, had made Jonathan.</p> <p>Jonathan had several other relatively minor operations performed, in the following years, but has otherwise been blessed with good health.</p> <p>On the day he was born, he was given a 50/50 survival rate.</p> <p>The thing that struck me most through the whole experience, was how far advanced medicine had become. I have no doubt that they have become even more sophisticated in the 15 years that have since passed. I was always impressed by their air of caution, and that they couldn't allow themselves to believe just how good they are.</p> <p>Well take it from me, they are good....really good, &nbsp;and it it wasn't for the continual research and support of the likes of a certain charity group on this page, called 'Tinylife', then my beloved Jonathan wouldn't be alive today. I do not, even for one moment, kid myself otherwise. David and I are, and forever shall be, most grateful.</p> <p>Thank you so very much,for taking the time to read our experience,and for considering making a donation to it.</p> <p>with love and appreciation, Karen x</p> <p>(Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving &ndash; they&rsquo;ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they&rsquo;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&rsquo;s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>