Our amazing daughter Callie arrived into the world 10 weeks early in February this year, and spent over 9 weeks in hospital. Throughout this time, Callie was cared for by the amazing doctors and nurses in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, so we are setting up this fundraiser to try and give a little back for all of the support we have received.

On the 1^st of February 2021, our worlds turned upside down, when at just 26 weeks pregnant, Emma’s waters broke, threatening the extremely early arrival of our little baby. At this point, Emma was admitted to hospital for close monitoring, and was supported by the amazing midwives on unit 3 in Holles Street. The fear of the unknown was very real but the doctors, nurses and midwives did their utmost to prepare us for all eventualities. Due to Covid 19, there was no visitors allowed into the hospital throughout this time, and therefore the support of the midwives was even more valued and appreciated.

Nearly 4 weeks later, on the 25^th of February, our little girl made her entrance into the world –ten weeks early, weighing a tiny, 3lb 5oz. From the moment she was born, our little superstars fight began. Callie needed a lot of help when she was born, and spent the first days of her life on a ventilator and in an incubator. After a few days, Callie improved and came off her ventilator, transitioning to another type of breathing support, a CPAP machine which was needed for 4 weeks. 

Time went by slowly but as each day passed Callie gained strength, and was able to come off CPAP, this was a huge step in the right direction. The nine weeks passed by in a bit of a blur, with numerous daily visits to NICU and hours spent by Callie’s incubator. As time passed, Callie got promoted to her open cot, gained weight, and wore
clothes for the first time, before being moved to special care in preparation for her journey to come home. Our little superstar showed so much strength throughout her journey, displaying her little personality this early on.

In the initial days, there was a camera on at Callie’s incubator, which had been donated by a previous family of the NICU, and this provided an invaluable comfort to be able to see her, when we couldn’t be present. It also allowed Callie’s big Brother, Thomas, her grandparents and her Auntie’s and Uncles to see her progress when they couldn’t physically meet her.

We will be forever grateful to the amazing people in NICU, who supported both ourselves and Callie throughout the NICU journey. With the dedicated support of the nurses and doctors, Callie went from strength to strength.We had a few bumps along the way with plenty of ups and downs, but the care, support and empathy we received from all the staff of Holles Street hospital,made it possible for us to bring our little girl home and start our new chapter. 

We feel there is no better way to give back to the amazing team in
Holles Street, than to raise some much needed funds. I (Callie's dad
Gary),  will be running 100km over the course of the next few weeks to try and raise as much funds as possible for this outstanding cause. To fulfil my target, I will need your help!!  So if you can, please donate. 
This is our way of saying thank you to all who have supported us throughout this difficult time. We understand times are hard for everyone at the moment and if you are not in a position to donate its ok, even sharing the fundraiser to help us go above and beyond our target. Every euro we raise will all go towards NICU in Holles street hospital, and I will update the page on a weekly basis as to how I'm getting on. 

We realise that unfortunately, there will be other parents who find
themselves in our position, and as our NICU journey is ending
someone else’s is just beginning. Our aim is to fund raise, so that another family can have the same supports that we experienced.

We appreciate all of the support, love and understanding we have received from friends and family so far, and if anyone would
like to join me for a 5k run your more than welcome - just get in touch :) 

Gary, Emma, Thomas & Callie