William Wallace
B.R.I Special Care Baby Unit fund raiser
Fundraising for Bradford Hospitals Charity
Story
Updates 18/05/2009
I have been somewhat remiss in placing a final update on this site with information on both Kaiden's and my own progress.
My weight loss date has been and gone with my final weight being 13st 8lbs. This equates to a total weight loss of 12 lbs since I started - which I am quite pleased with.
I would have liked to have been able to lose more but the combination of evening visits to the hospital initially, coupled with a sheer sense of relief at his homecoming and the break of fasting as a result, have meant that I did not lose quite as much as I'd hoped.
Regardless, I have donated my final amount today of £15 (3 lbs x £5) to bring my personal donation to an end and would like to thank everyone who has shown an interest in this sponsorship appeal for their input.
The SCBU have already indicated that they have plans to purchase some key equipment with the monies raised (exact details to be confirmed) and have in turn asked for me to send you all their sincere thanks. We HAVE made a difference!
And that to me is fantastic!
Thanks again.
As for Kaiden - he is home and hearty, putting on weight faster than I could ever lose it. He is a joy to us all, and even though we have challenges to overcome in the future, he is the centre of our life.
From myself, my wife, my boys Connor and Ethan, and also from the SCBU once again I say thank you for your help.
Kindest regards.
Will.
========== Previous Updates =================
Updates
Weight loss tracker:
Starting weight = 202 lbs (14st 6lbs) - target weight = 182 lbs (13st)
¬ Week 4 (9th Feb)
- current weight 13st 11lbs / this week's loss 1 lbs / total loss = 9 lbs
¬ Week 3 (2nd Feb)
- current weight 13st 12lbs / this week's loss 1 lbs / total loss = 8 lbs
¬ Week 2 (26th Jan)
- current weight 13st 13lbs / this week's loss 3 lbs / total loss = 7 lbs
¬ Week 1 (19th Jan)
- current weight 14st 2lbs / this week's loss 4 lbs / total loss = 4 lbs
19/01/2009
Kaiden is still going from strength to strength, gaining weight (hasn't he heard of my weight loss drive!) and generally making good progress, we are very proud of him.
My first weigh in - I've lost 4 lbs - from 14st 6 lbs to 14st 2 lbs. So my donation for this week will be 4 x £5 = £20.
I've also raised the target to £1500 as the support so far has been amazing, resulting in our smashing the previous target of £750 already.
Keep it up - and many thanks for all of your support.
16/01/2009
¬ Raised target due to the phenonemal response to the campaign
THANK YOU ALL!
15/01/2009
¬ Kaiden has now moved from the High Dependency Unit to another less critical room within the unit - great news!
Background
Thank's for visiting my fundraising page.
On the 4th January @ 17:32 pm Kaiden William Wallace, weighing just 1.94 Kg (4 lbs 4 oz) was unexpectedly welcomed into the world by his proud but rather surprised and nervous parents, William and Kirsty Wallace and siblings Connor and Ethan. Click HERE to view pictures of Kaiden.
The reason for the nervousness was simple, Kaiden was not due to be born for a further 10 weeks (March 15th), but due to unforeseen complications the rather difficult decision to bring him out of his comfortable cocoon was made.
Due to his premature birth it has been necessary for Kaiden (which is a Celtic name meaning "Warrior" - very apt!) to be placed into the care of the Special Care Baby Unit (more specifically the Neonatal High Dependency Unit) at the Bradford Royal Infirmary where he is likely to stay until near his original due date.
When Kaiden entered the SCBU at the B.R.I. both his mother and I were scared, anxious and uninformed as to the potential trials and tribulations which he may be faced with.
There are so many potential problems, both real and imagined due to the non maturity of the babies organs. This is a time of uncertainty, fear and prayer. It is also a time for optimism, hope and love for the miracle of life which lies before you. Difficult but rewarding times.
I am happy to report as I write that at the grand old age of 10 days Kaiden has gone from strength to strength during his current short stay in the unit.
He has been taken off his ventilator as his lungs are now strong enough to allow him to breathe unassisted. He no longer needs the rather fetching neon lights which help his kidneys and liver combat the jaundice.
He still receives his food through a drip, but has gone from the almost non-esistent amount of 0.5 ml (no that's not an typo) per hour up to 9 ml an hour, and will continue to increase up to an estimated 12 (Kirsty - you'd better step up the milk production!!).
And most joyful of all today is his first day out of the ventilator as he has been moved into a cot.
During all of this time, and over the coming weeks and months, Kaiden has been looked after by a phenomenal team of nurses, midwives, doctors and consultants.
They monitor him 24/7 and go about their duties with tireless enthusiasm, good will and obvious love both for the job and the babies they look after.
It is because of their tireless dedication that I have created this sponsorship page as I wanted to be able, in some small way, to give something back to the SCBU unit, and the staff involved.
My sponsorship plan
My plan is simple. I am going to go on a sponsored weight loss to try and drum(stick) up some funds for the unit (I'm missing food already!!).
I have taken my start weight from the 12th January and will personally donate £5 for every 1lb of weight that I lose between now and Kaiden's original due date (March 17th).
My starting weight as of the 12th of January is 14 stone 6 lbs - or 202 lbs. My goal weight is 13 stone or 182 lbs.
If I manage to reach my target weight then I will donate an additional £100 making my total £200 (20 lbs weight loss x £5 + £100 target bonus).
That's my personal donation plan. I am now asking you to help by donating whatever amount you can to the cause, be it £1 or £100 - it will all help.
The motto is simple, "I lose weight, you give money, they earn the chance for life".
Thanks in advance for any support you are willing to provide.
The B.R.I. Special Care Baby Unit
The Neonatal Unit is situated in the Maternity Unit of the BRI on the ground floor.
There are many different reasons for a baby to admitted to the unit, and these may include being premature or small at birth, or if the baby is having problems breathing. Approximately 1 in 10 babies in the UK spend some time on a neonatal unit, so it is not uncommon.
On the unit there are 27 beds in total, divided into three rooms -
¬ Room 1 - Neonatal High Dependency Unit - Has ten beds in total, six of which provide intensive care facilities for babies, e.g. those requiring breathing support. Babies placed in this room will be closely monitored and may have regular tests to check on their wellbeing.
¬ Rooms 2 & 3 - Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) - Has 17 beds split between the two rooms, and provides care for babies who require less intensive care, e.g. those that need help to establish their feeding, or need light therapy for jaundice.
The BRI also has a Transitional Care Unit (nine beds) based on Ward M1 on the first floor of the Maternity Unit, where mother and baby are looked after together by an integrated team of midwives and neonatal nurses.
The unit is led by four consultants - Dr. Chatfield, Dr. Day, Dr. Seal, and Dr. Oddie.
A team of registrars and senior house officers work alongside the consultants to help to provide the best possible medical care for your baby.
The nursing team includes the matron, sisters, staff nurses, student nurses and nursery nurses and provides 24 hour care for your baby, as well as support and education for you as parents.
Other members of staff you may see on the unit include the practice development nurse, regional clinical educator, ward clerk, radiologists, physiotherapists, and domestic staff.
Donating
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Fund gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
So please sponsor me now!
I have been somewhat remiss in placing a final update on this site with information on both Kaiden's and my own progress.
My weight loss date has been and gone with my final weight being 13st 8lbs. This equates to a total weight loss of 12 lbs since I started - which I am quite pleased with.
I would have liked to have been able to lose more but the combination of evening visits to the hospital initially, coupled with a sheer sense of relief at his homecoming and the break of fasting as a result, have meant that I did not lose quite as much as I'd hoped.
Regardless, I have donated my final amount today of £15 (3 lbs x £5) to bring my personal donation to an end and would like to thank everyone who has shown an interest in this sponsorship appeal for their input.
The SCBU have already indicated that they have plans to purchase some key equipment with the monies raised (exact details to be confirmed) and have in turn asked for me to send you all their sincere thanks. We HAVE made a difference!
And that to me is fantastic!
Thanks again.
As for Kaiden - he is home and hearty, putting on weight faster than I could ever lose it. He is a joy to us all, and even though we have challenges to overcome in the future, he is the centre of our life.
From myself, my wife, my boys Connor and Ethan, and also from the SCBU once again I say thank you for your help.
Kindest regards.
Will.
========== Previous Updates =================
Updates
Weight loss tracker:
Starting weight = 202 lbs (14st 6lbs) - target weight = 182 lbs (13st)
¬ Week 4 (9th Feb)
- current weight 13st 11lbs / this week's loss 1 lbs / total loss = 9 lbs
¬ Week 3 (2nd Feb)
- current weight 13st 12lbs / this week's loss 1 lbs / total loss = 8 lbs
¬ Week 2 (26th Jan)
- current weight 13st 13lbs / this week's loss 3 lbs / total loss = 7 lbs
¬ Week 1 (19th Jan)
- current weight 14st 2lbs / this week's loss 4 lbs / total loss = 4 lbs
19/01/2009
Kaiden is still going from strength to strength, gaining weight (hasn't he heard of my weight loss drive!) and generally making good progress, we are very proud of him.
My first weigh in - I've lost 4 lbs - from 14st 6 lbs to 14st 2 lbs. So my donation for this week will be 4 x £5 = £20.
I've also raised the target to £1500 as the support so far has been amazing, resulting in our smashing the previous target of £750 already.
Keep it up - and many thanks for all of your support.
16/01/2009
¬ Raised target due to the phenonemal response to the campaign
THANK YOU ALL!
15/01/2009
¬ Kaiden has now moved from the High Dependency Unit to another less critical room within the unit - great news!
Background
Thank's for visiting my fundraising page.
On the 4th January @ 17:32 pm Kaiden William Wallace, weighing just 1.94 Kg (4 lbs 4 oz) was unexpectedly welcomed into the world by his proud but rather surprised and nervous parents, William and Kirsty Wallace and siblings Connor and Ethan. Click HERE to view pictures of Kaiden.
The reason for the nervousness was simple, Kaiden was not due to be born for a further 10 weeks (March 15th), but due to unforeseen complications the rather difficult decision to bring him out of his comfortable cocoon was made.
Due to his premature birth it has been necessary for Kaiden (which is a Celtic name meaning "Warrior" - very apt!) to be placed into the care of the Special Care Baby Unit (more specifically the Neonatal High Dependency Unit) at the Bradford Royal Infirmary where he is likely to stay until near his original due date.
When Kaiden entered the SCBU at the B.R.I. both his mother and I were scared, anxious and uninformed as to the potential trials and tribulations which he may be faced with.
There are so many potential problems, both real and imagined due to the non maturity of the babies organs. This is a time of uncertainty, fear and prayer. It is also a time for optimism, hope and love for the miracle of life which lies before you. Difficult but rewarding times.
I am happy to report as I write that at the grand old age of 10 days Kaiden has gone from strength to strength during his current short stay in the unit.
He has been taken off his ventilator as his lungs are now strong enough to allow him to breathe unassisted. He no longer needs the rather fetching neon lights which help his kidneys and liver combat the jaundice.
He still receives his food through a drip, but has gone from the almost non-esistent amount of 0.5 ml (no that's not an typo) per hour up to 9 ml an hour, and will continue to increase up to an estimated 12 (Kirsty - you'd better step up the milk production!!).
And most joyful of all today is his first day out of the ventilator as he has been moved into a cot.
During all of this time, and over the coming weeks and months, Kaiden has been looked after by a phenomenal team of nurses, midwives, doctors and consultants.
They monitor him 24/7 and go about their duties with tireless enthusiasm, good will and obvious love both for the job and the babies they look after.
It is because of their tireless dedication that I have created this sponsorship page as I wanted to be able, in some small way, to give something back to the SCBU unit, and the staff involved.
My sponsorship plan
My plan is simple. I am going to go on a sponsored weight loss to try and drum(stick) up some funds for the unit (I'm missing food already!!).
I have taken my start weight from the 12th January and will personally donate £5 for every 1lb of weight that I lose between now and Kaiden's original due date (March 17th).
My starting weight as of the 12th of January is 14 stone 6 lbs - or 202 lbs. My goal weight is 13 stone or 182 lbs.
If I manage to reach my target weight then I will donate an additional £100 making my total £200 (20 lbs weight loss x £5 + £100 target bonus).
That's my personal donation plan. I am now asking you to help by donating whatever amount you can to the cause, be it £1 or £100 - it will all help.
The motto is simple, "I lose weight, you give money, they earn the chance for life".
Thanks in advance for any support you are willing to provide.
The B.R.I. Special Care Baby Unit
The Neonatal Unit is situated in the Maternity Unit of the BRI on the ground floor.
There are many different reasons for a baby to admitted to the unit, and these may include being premature or small at birth, or if the baby is having problems breathing. Approximately 1 in 10 babies in the UK spend some time on a neonatal unit, so it is not uncommon.
On the unit there are 27 beds in total, divided into three rooms -
¬ Room 1 - Neonatal High Dependency Unit - Has ten beds in total, six of which provide intensive care facilities for babies, e.g. those requiring breathing support. Babies placed in this room will be closely monitored and may have regular tests to check on their wellbeing.
¬ Rooms 2 & 3 - Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) - Has 17 beds split between the two rooms, and provides care for babies who require less intensive care, e.g. those that need help to establish their feeding, or need light therapy for jaundice.
The BRI also has a Transitional Care Unit (nine beds) based on Ward M1 on the first floor of the Maternity Unit, where mother and baby are looked after together by an integrated team of midwives and neonatal nurses.
The unit is led by four consultants - Dr. Chatfield, Dr. Day, Dr. Seal, and Dr. Oddie.
A team of registrars and senior house officers work alongside the consultants to help to provide the best possible medical care for your baby.
The nursing team includes the matron, sisters, staff nurses, student nurses and nursery nurses and provides 24 hour care for your baby, as well as support and education for you as parents.
Other members of staff you may see on the unit include the practice development nurse, regional clinical educator, ward clerk, radiologists, physiotherapists, and domestic staff.
Donating
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Fund gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
So please sponsor me now!