We wish all proceeds to go the Cleft Palate ward at Alderhey.

BUTTERWORTH SPENGLER TEAM MEMBERS - 

James Jaycock, Andy Thomson, Alan Tune, Geoff Orrell, Jeff Banks, Peter Gee, Mark Robinson

WORDS BY JAMES 

During July 2013 Alison my partner attended hospital for a routine scan as we were having our second baby.

I received a call and she was upset, the scan revealed that our baby has a cleft lip and I wasn't there.

The diagnosis was confirm the following week with a more detailed scan. We were shocked, and faced uncertainty, emotion followed.

We were referred immediately to Alder Hey and became aware of Clapa, we were about to find out that we now have a team of medical professionals available to help us throughout and in the coming years.

The whole condition and process was explained, after our consultations and we focused on having a healthy baby as before, Alison was strong. 

On 6 March, Annabel was born, my lovely daughter has a cleft lip and palate and within 10 minutes of birth Dad was feeding his baby girl as trained.

We had some issues in the coming days, Annabel stopped breathing 8 hours after birth. Five days and nights later we were released from special care at Ormskirk hospital and returned home.

Alison was desperate to feed Annabel with breast milk, this cannot happen normally due to the cleft lip and palate. Babies like Annabel are unable to suck which clearly is one of our first human functions.

Louise Hall, a specialist consultant with Clapa / Alder Hey, sourced a Ameda breast pump and kit from somewhere and it became obvious to me during this period that Alder Hey didn't have enough of these machines available to mums.

Annabel is now feeding on breast milk at home and Allison had her wish thanks to Louise at Alder Hey.  She's growing and becoming stronger and she will need to be in the future months prior to surgery.

The medical professionals at Alder Hey include a surgeon, anaesthetist, doctors, nurses, orthodontists, counsellors and the referral team themselves. They work as a team and my family is now ready for our future journey.

At Butterworth Spengler we work as a team to give advice and service to clients, I mentioned to a friend at work that I was going to raise money for the charity so that Alder Hey could buy another breast pump ( £900 )and that will be made available on loan to new mums. Mark, my friend, took over and formed a team of seven within 12 hours to participate in the Manx Parish walk.  The walk is around the Isle of Man on 21 June 2014 and is 53 km long. My friends have purchased new trainers, socks and kits and training is well under way.

With help and sponsorship we would like to provide breast pumps for Clapa, so families like mine can benefit in the future and have their wish to feed their baby with breast milk.

Thanks for your support, James