Having a baby is a very exciting time. Everyone looks forward to the day they get to meet their baby and hold them for the first time and nobody expects to need specialised neonatal support. 

For families like ours, when things don't go to plan, units like Buscot provide life-saving treatment for precious little people.

We have needed support from Buscot twice. Our first experience on the unit came when our son, Miles, made an early appearance and needed some help breathing  and fighting  an infection (even though he was a giant compared to some of the ward's other patients!). Our second stay was longer; our daughter, Molly, was born at just under 28 weeks and spent a couple of months on Buscot growing, sleeping under some lovely lights and being supported with the essential skill of breathing. 

For parents of premature or sick babies, life on the neonatal unit is a rollercoaster of emotions and a time of uncertainty. Tiny milestones seem huge and worthy of celebration and bonds are formed for life with others travelling the same rocky road.

Without the amazing support from Buscot, our babies wouldn't have grown into the healthy, happy teenagers they are now.

To give something back, Thomas and I have decided to run the Reading Half Marathon as part of the BIBS 2018 team to raise money towards two new incubators - vital equipment for the unit.

I'm not a 'runner' and at the moment I can barely make it around a 5km course but it wouldn't be a challenge if it were easy. I intend to train hard and give it my all.My goal is to make it around the 13.1 mile course and if I don't finish in last place then that would be an added bonus! Thomas may be slightly more ambitious 😂

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