The family of a boy who spent his first days on NICU more than 17 years ago are finally taking a fundraising break having raised £25,000 for the N&N Hospitals Charity.
Jack Baker was born by emergency caesarean section in September 2009 after mum Lucy suffered a placental abruption which meant that his heartbeat had slowed considerably.
The delivery team spent eight minutes resuscitating Jack before he was taken to the NICU where he took part in what was then a pioneering programme called TOBY which involved cooling his body to reduce any damage to the brain following oxygen deprivation.
Jack is now a happy, healthy 16 year old, and to say thanks to the NICU which cared for him, Lucy and husband Simon, and grandparents Jane and Adrian, held an annual garden coffee morning and crafts sale support if the NICU.
Jane said: “We have held annual fund-raising events in our garden all these years but decided that 2023 was the last one we were going to host.
“We managed to raise £2,500 that day, making a total over the years of about £25,000."
Lucy and Simon recalled their time on NICU: “When Jack was about eight hours old, Dr Roy, the consultant paediatrician, explained what had happened and that Jack had
been deprived of oxygen at birth, and said th
at Jack was very poorly; he might experience fits and seizures, his liver wasn’t functioning properly and nor were his kidneys.
“Dr Roy suggested the TOBY cooling mat which usually needed to be started within seven hours of birth but, as long as we were willing to agree to try it, Jack would be put on it straight away.”
“The treatment involved cooling his body temperature by three or four degrees, thereby reducing any damage to the brain following his oxygen deprivation.
“During the next 72 hours, although we had a very poorly baby to think about, we were so impressed with and grateful to the whole NICU team.
“His recovery in the NICU was amazing thanks to the care and dedication of the staff and, during the 12 days we were there, we always felt welcomed.
“Had it not been for the treatment he received at the NICU, it would have been a very different story.”
Rachel Backshall, N&N Hospitals Charity Director, said: “The support over the past 16 years has been incredible and we can’t thank the family enough for what they have done. Jack’s is such a fantastic story and it’s lovely to have been able to follow it for so long.
“The money raised over the years has helped to support many other families and we are honoured to have received such support for so long.”