After my daughter left the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Bristol and came home, I promised I would do something to show how grateful I was for the amazing care she (and I) received……...and then I got a place in the London Marathon!

So….I will be running 26.2 miles at the end of April and raising money for the amazing Cots for Tots. It turns out training for a marathon is another beast when trying to fit it in around broken nights, running after a toddler, and returning to work but I am getting there and am even looking forward to it (kind of).

We didn’t realise how lucky we were to have NICU so close to use in Bristol until we really needed it when Adeline was born 9 weeks early. At only 2lbs and with 2 collapsed lungs she had a rough start. However, she progressed well and moved through the rooms in NICU as babies get better, before coming home about 6 weeks later. Our journey was helped so much by the amazing facilities and support from the staff at the hospital – we could visit and call any time of the day or night, we were given books to read to Adeline, sticker charts to track her progress, shown how to tube feed her, and taught patiently how to change a nappy in an incubator.

The Cots for Tots appeal raises money to ensure the neonatal unit is equipped with the latest pioneering medical equipment, and supports the care provided by the clinical teams – supporting both the babies and their parents. Not only this, but it funds a house next door to the hospital where families from across the South West of England can stay – all year round and for free, to be close to their babies. We were lucky enough to live close to the hospital but saw the difference the Cots for Tots House made to other families who would have to travel for hours to visit their child, whilst dealing with the stress of everything else that goes with having a baby in NICU. £1000 can fund a month’s accommodation for a family in the Cots for Tots house, so that’s what I am aiming for. Anything you can donate would be so great.

Thank you, thank you, thank you

x

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