The NICU 300 K’s of Christmas

I always find this time of year reflective.  14 years ago I was 23 weeks pregnant with triplets.  On 11^th November – armistice day I woke up to find I was bleeding.  We went to the RUH in Bath and spent the next 5 ½ weeks in hospital.  My boys were born on 12^th December 2006, 12 weeks early weighing 1lb 9, 1lb 10 and 2lb 14.  I left hospital on 19^th December but had to leave my boys there for another 10 weeks.

The staff in the NICU unit saved my boys lives.  There were highs and lows.  But there was always a smile, a hug and support.  They shared our journey – the tears and ultimately the joy and we will be forever grateful.

We helped raise money when the new NICU unit was being built
and the boys were invited to present the posy to The Duchess of Cornwall when the unit opened (but that’s another story!) But this year, with lockdown and COVID has me thinking about the NICU staff and families of the premature and sick babies even more.  NICU is a tough place, especially over Christmas but with COVID restrictions it must be a much harder and lonelier existence.

So, Nellie, the boys and I decided we wanted to help. And we
came up with a crazy plan!

From the 11^th November until 19^th  December (the time I spent in hospital in 2006) I will be completing 5K a day to raise funds for the RUH Bath NICU unit.  On the final day -19^th December we plan to run/walk from our home in Frome to the NICU unit at RUH Bath (around 20miles) and deliver a hamper of goodies for all the NICU staff and
families for Christmas.

My dear friend and long-suffering running buddy Carolyn will be
joining me in this challenge along with the boys some days and I’m hoping others will join in and do the odd 5K remotely or all of them if you like!  Maybe it will make Lockdown a little easier and it will be helping the NICU community at the RUH Bath have a happier Christmas.

Thank you.

Emma, Carolyn, Nellie, Kimi Dillon & Gil xxx

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