One year ago today, on World Prematurity Day, our nephew Jackson Carter Godfrey was born.  

Due in February, our beautiful baby boy arrived at 29 weeks and weighed just under 3lbs. While most births are a time of elation and relief for parents as they get to hug their new born baby, and take them home, Jackson was rushed straight into NICU for 6 weeks where his life was saved by some of the most incredible machines, nurses and doctors. What was meant to be the happiest day of our sister’s life, was one of the most frightening experiences.

Jackson spent the first two weeks in an incubator, with his parents Sam and Paul only being able to hold his little hand. He went through a series of X-rays, ultrasounds, had a nasal gastric tube, multiple long line insertion, cpap, intubation, numerous blood tests, and many eye tests to check for ROP.

As he started to grow stronger, his parents were allowed to put a whole hand on his body and eventually after weeks of watching him they were able to hug him like they had longed to from the second he was born. They made sure they were by his side whenever possible, often just watching him sleep and praying. The rest of us who were not allowed to see him yet, waited for minutes that felt like hours and days that felt like years to get updates on how he was progressing and for the day that we too could cuddle our nephew. 

Sam and Paul also have two amazing sons Jesse and Cody and it was so hard watching them struggle to be in two places at once so that all their children felt loved and looked after. Sam would always say that there was never a time she didn’t feel guilty; either for not being with her beautiful baby in hospital, or for not being at home with other two gorgeous sons who missed their mummy.  The tears didn’t stop flowing for any of us. Whilst Sam and Paul put on a brave face for the next 6 weeks; no parent should ever have to endure what they went through and there is nothing that can prepare you for it. You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.

Thanks to the incredible care Jackson received at both St Mary’s and Watford NICU hospital, he grew stronger every day.  He was finally able to leave hospital in December and he will always be the best Christmas miracle that our family could dream of.

We are so grateful for the amazing staff and technology and for saving our Jackson and we cannot thank them enough! With their incredible help, we have been gifted a happy, healthy and perfect little boy who we adore with all our hearts. 

We also know how lucky we are that Jackson is thriving at home and that not every family is so lucky.  We want to do the best we can to make sure that these incredible hospitals are able to help as many babies and save as many families as possible.  

In order to help other families that go through this, we wanted to take on a sponsored event that would challenge us, both mentally and physically. We have decided to sign up for Tough Mudder challenge, an obstacle course, which will most likely involve blood, sweat and tears in order to complete this.

Please kindly help us in this journey by sponsoring St Mary's Children's Fund.  Every donation that’s made to this page brings us closer to ensuring that babies born premature or sick in the UK have the best chance of survival and quality of life.  

Thank you so much in advance.

Lots of love 

Dan and Charly Levene

xxxx