In 2016, when I was pregnant with Sophia, the antenatal staff noted that I had an excess of water. They advised it was probably nothing. It was something. I found myself an in-patient at Bedford Hospital, with Sophia travelling to The Rosie Hospital in Cambridge for surgery.

Pete travelled to Cambridge, with no thought about logistics. Fortunately he was offered a room at Chestnut House, accommodation a couple of floors below NICU at The Rosie. He was able to be with Sophia when I couldn’t be 💜

I was discharged a couple of days later, and was able to join Pete at Chestnut House. We stayed nearly three weeks whilst Sophia underwent the rollercoaster that was recovery. Being so close meant that when something happened, nurses could ring our room, and we could be up to Sophia’s incubator in minutes. I addition to a bedroom, we also had use of a kitchen and living area. There were amazing breast pumps as well - I was pumping every couple of hours, and had quite a stash ready once Sophia was recovered enough to have milk.

It costs £40 a night for The Sick Children’s Trust to support a family for one night. We were there 20 nights - £800. We have fundraised for SCT a number of times over the past 8 years, because we know how important having a welcoming place to stay close by is.

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