Thank you for visiting my JustGiving page.

Here’s my story about why I’m fundraising for the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at West Cumberland Hospital.

To support this incredible cause, I’ll be running the Keswick Half Marathon on 21st September 2025 and then the Manchester Marathon on 19th April 2026.

When I was just 12 weeks pregnant, I received a phone call that changed everything. I was told to go to hospital immediately — something wasn’t right. Because of COVID restrictions, I had to go in alone. I was told there was a high chance that my baby had a life-affecting genetic or chromosomal condition.

The doctors recommended a procedure called CVS, which involves taking a sample from the placenta with a large needle. It came with a high risk of miscarriage, and I had to face it completely on my own. Thankfully, the results came back clear — but something still wasn’t right.

A few weeks later, a follow-up scan revealed that my baby wasn’t growing as expected. I was referred to fetal medicine specialists at the RVI, while also continuing care under a consultant at West Cumberland Hospital.

The weeks that followed were filled with difficult conversations about the possibility of loss. I had over 21 scans during my pregnancy, each one holding its breath of hope. Slowly but surely, my little boy continued to grow.

At 36 weeks, which was an incredible milestone given the circumstances, Oakley was born. He was absolutely perfect — but very small. At nearly full term, he weighed just 3lb 12oz, around half the average weight of a baby at that stage.

We were taken straight to the Special Care Baby Unit at Whitehaven Hospital, something I had mentally prepared for. Thankfully, I was able to stay on the ward for a week while Oakley was monitored. The SCBU staff made me feel instantly at home.

Oakley didn’t need help feeding or breathing, as I had feared for a baby of his size — just some treatment for jaundice. I was incredibly lucky. At the same time, I was also juggling life at home with my two-year-old daughter during a COVID lockdown. The nurses were amazing — they gave me the confidence to leave Oakley safely in their care so I could be with my daughter too.

A few weeks later, my nephew Theo was born prematurely and also needed support from SCBU. I was able to help my sister-in-law and brother feel at ease, knowing firsthand how compassionate and skilled the SCBU team are. Thanks to their care, Theo too got the strong start he needed.

For everything they’ve done for Oakley, Theo, and so many other babies, I will be forever grateful to the SCBU team at West Cumberland Hospital.

I hope to raise enough funds to help them purchase:

Tiny baby clothes that are often hard to find

Comfort items for the live-in room, making stays easier for families

Or even contribute toward life-saving equipment

Without SCBU, we might have had to travel far and been unable to stay on the ward — the thought of leaving my newborn behind would have been unbearable.

Any donation, no matter how small, would mean the world.

Thank you so much for reading my story.

– Siobhan x

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