Our daughter, Leah Violet was born premature 23/07/16 at 29 wks & 4 days.
She made a strong start to life, discharged from neonatal St. James at 34weeks gestation (-6 weeks term), she then started to encounter challenges !

Leah was home just 2days before we noticed that she was having difficulty breathing, deteriorating rapidly.
We called 999 for Leah to be rushed in to be intubated by the crash team as she was unable to breathe for herself.
She was then transferred to Leeds Gen. Inf. PICU for a 3week stay where she was cared for 1:1, 24/7, ventilated & a combo of drugs, before deteriorating further & needing an oscillator (designed to achieve & maintain optimal lung vol in children with respiratory failure & high predicted mortality rate).

Leah improved after a week & was allowed to move to a ward for several days for obs before returning home late Sept '16.

Leah made good progress before contracting a 2nd illness 2weeks later in Oct.
Leah was admitted for a 2nd time & initially managed on vaportherm (pressurised O2) soon became apparent that she was deteriorating again.

Leah was admitted for a 2nd stay on LGI PICU, again intubated, under 1:1 24/7 care.
After a further 3 weeks of ventilation & then moved back on to the oscillator the Doctors began tough & serious conversations with us on the likely outcome that Leah & we could face.
Her chances didn't look good.

Leah was osillated for 2 weeks again with a combination of antibiotics, pain killers, sedatives, paralysis, diuretics & steroids in hope that she would pull through but knowing her chances were very slim.

This little girl is one stubborn strong fighter!!!

The support, knowledge & decisions the PICU staff made allowed Leah & us every hope & she did pull through!
Leah was discharged 29/12/16 & has been home since, under care!

Please support Dad (and friends) 1/2 Marathon run May '17 in raising as much for the Leeds PICU as possible !!
Let's see how much we can raise !