So, I've decided to be really brave and take on the mighty maternity tower at Ipswich Hospital by abseiling down it! It's 135 feet high, but every foot will count towards fundraising for Colchester’s Neonatal Unit. 

Our story: On the 4th February 2023 at 01:01am My beautiful daughter Athea Marie was born into the world. 

She was born via emergency c section and was taken straight into the Colchester neonatal unit for life saving treatment whilst I was left wondering what she looked like and how she was. She was born unresponsive, had no iron in her blood, low red blood cells, has sepsis, jaundice and unable to maintain oxygen, but at just 5lb she was a little fighter.

Going into day two of life she was required to have a full body blood transfusion as she still was unable to produce red blood cells and she still lacked all iron in her blood. This was gut wrenching as I was still yet to meet my own daughter and hold her, at a time when as a mother you know she needs you the most. 

We finally met the end of day two my heart felt so full, I got to watch her from the side of her ventilator my little girl, my baby. The amazing nicu nurses said she did amazing during her transfusion and had been able to take away her oxygen tube, though she was still a little bundle of wires, NG tube (feeding tube) as she unable to feed on her own, an umbilical venous catheter which provided her with essential medication and nutrients, heart monitors, and cannulas 

Going into day three our first cuddle, the moment I had been dreaming for I could finally hold and bond with my little Athea, the first time seeing her out of an incubator she was so small, time seemed to go so fast and after what felt like a second she was back in her incubator and I was back in my hospital room. By day three I myself was off of 24 hour monitoring this was due to complications with my health prior to delivery and my birth itself, this meant I could finally spend as much time with my daughter as I wanted. On day 6 we was finally moved to the low dependency nursery with just a Ng tube left to go, and I could finally pick her up when ever I wanted and enjoy as many cuddles as possible without needing to ask, it was also this day I was discharged from the Lexden ward and the neonatal unit was able to offer me a room in the unit so I could be there at all times although just a bed and a chair it was my new home.

On day 7 the results from her brain scan had come back and it was found she had chambers in her brain where it hadn’t formed properly and later found she has a cyst on her brain, this is still undergoing constant monitoring but without the neonatal unit this is something that may have gone amiss. She was still struggling taking 40ml of milk and still required to take it via her NG tube, but with persistent and determination and from the help of the nurses we taught her to suck and after a full day of bottles on day 11 I was told I could finally bring her home. 

She has now just turnt 3 months old and is thriving. We still have a long way to go and is still on various medications but she’s getting stronger by the day and I’m so lucky to have a little fighter like mine. The nurses became family to me not only looking after my daughter but me aswell and keeping me sane within the 4 walls of constant beeping and fear.

Without the care, skills and love within the NICU at Colchester Hospital, me and my daughter may not have been so lucky.

Nothing I can do will ever be able to repay the unit for everything they did for my girl, but hopefully this money can go towards essential new equipment and help within the unit that they desperately need.