Here's my story:

At 26 weeks of pregnancy my wife and I found out that one of our twins, Archie, had died in the womb.  It then became a battle to keep our unborn child alive.  Eventually at 30 weeks we welcomed our daughter Daisy Mae into the world.  The tiniest little thing you could ever imagine, who needed all the help in the world to survive.

First of all came the agonising wait for her to begin using her lungs by herself, until then she needed assistance.  Next she contracted a bug: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) where portions of the bowel undergo necrosis (tissue death). It is the second most common cause of morbidity in premature infants.  Daisy was extremely ill and all we could do was put our faith in the doctors and nurses caring for her.  Thankfully, Daisy managed to get over this bug and seemed to be on the road to full health.

Then came the call we dreaded, Daisy had taken a very bad turn, her heart was not working properly and she had needed help again.  This continued to happen and eventually we had a diagnosis of Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT): a rapid heart rhythm which can be potentially dangerous.  Again all we could do was hope that it would turn out positively.

With assistance and support from all of the staff, we came through these little episodes, Daisy grew into a big strong girl and eventually after what seemed like forever (around 10 weeks) we were allowed to bring our baby home. 

We never wanted to go through that again but.................

20 months later arrived our second daughter, Lottie Rose.  My wife went into labour again at 30 weeks and at 34 weeks along came Lottie.  A bigger girl, who could breathe on her own but she had an infection. So we found ourselves back on the SCBU once again.  Lottie had Group B streptococcus which can cause pneumonia, sepsis or meningitis.  This meant the she had to have antibiotics through an IV drip for 10 days. 

With Lottie in hospital again back came all the memories of our time in there with Daisy.

The bleeping noise of the machines in the rooms, is a noise that will never leave you.  The noise that keeps all those babies under close monitor, keeping them alive.  The smell of the alcohol gel that is constantly applied to ward off germs.  The not being able to just pick up your newborn and have a cuddle without assistance from a nurse in case it pulls off a vital alarm wire.  The feeling of helplessness and hopefulness.  The look of heartache and desperation etched on the parents faces, which you know reflects yours.

So it is with all this in mind that I have decided to run 10k to raise money for the Special Care Baby Unit at the Jessop Hospital, Sheffield.  Without them I wouldn't have been able to hold my 2 beuatiful daughters, see them grown up, achieve their goals and eventually see them get married.  Each and everyone of them are unsung heroes, who so many people owe so much to. 

This is my way of trying to repay a little back.  Please help to support me in this.