Neonatal Unit UHNM Stoke-On-Trent

18/04/2024

Congratulations to Neonatal Unit UHNM Stoke-On-Trent team member Ghada - some more lovely feedback received from a local family.
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University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust

08/03/2024

The family of a newborn baby who needed the expert care of our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) rung in the New Year with a festive fundraising swim. 🏊‍♀️🏖🎄

Whilst many of us were nursing a sore head or dipping into the leftover Christmas chocolates, Diane Evans-Nelmes, Emma Dodd and Jo Mansfield were in Lyme Regis taking part in the annual fancy dress swim raising over £750 for UHNM Charity. 👏

The family from Werrington took a dip in the English Channel to thank staff on NICU for providing care to Diane’s granddaughter Edith, who spent two days on the Unit in October 2023.

🗣 Diane said: “It was absolutely beautiful. We were in Lyme Regis to celebrate Edith's aunty Emma’s birthday, so she was dressed as a birthday cake. I was dressed as a butterfly and along with honorary aunty Jo, we joined in with lots of people doing lots of fundraising- the atmosphere was buzzing.”

🗣 Emma added: “We all enjoyed taking part in what we called a plunge rather than a swim as the water was so cold, but we still managed to have a dance and do the conga. I’m amazed we raised so much, family and friends have been so generous because we all love Edith and are glad that UHNM were there when we needed them.

🗣 Edith's Mum Katie Evans-Nelmes said: “Edith was was quite poorly when she was born via emergency caesarean, having swallowed meconium whilst still in the womb. She needed resuscitating, oxygen and antibiotics and then spent two days in NICU.

“The team were so lovely and kind. One of the nurses really helped me get on my breast-feeding journey, something which I didn’t know if I was going to be able to do following such a traumatic birth. They’re all just amazing people.”

Katie, Emma and Edith returned to NICU to present their cheque to staff. 🏥

🤔💡 Thinking of fundraising for UHNM Charity? Check out our website for tips on how to get started 👉 https://www.uhnmcharity.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise-for-us/

11/01/2024

We are so grateful for the support of our families who have helped raise funds for our neonatal unit. Their generosity has made a huge difference in the lives of many families.

Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to this cause.

Thank you to kind-hearted staff at Silverdale Bathrooms who have donated £250 to UHNM Charity after choosing to donate money instead of sending Christmas cards.

Pictured is Abigail Whalley, of Silverdale Bathrooms, who recently dropped off a cheque which will benefit babies and families at the Neonatal Unit at Staffordshire Children's Hospital at Royal Stoke

11/01/2024

Parents of premature twins have raised over £3,000 for University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust's Forget Me Not Suite.

Karis Thompson and Jack Burgwin, from Stoke, fundraised for UHNM Charity in memory of daughters Ayda Lane and Remi Love who were born at 19 weeks. 🩷🩷

The funds have enabled staff to purchase a cooling ‘cuddle cot’, a lightweight, portable unit that provides grieving families with an opportunity to spend time with their loved ones away from a clinical setting.

🗣 Karis said: “We found out about Ayda and Remi in late 2022 and I went into early labour in February 2023 and had them at Royal Stoke’s Maternity Centre.

“The care at UHNM was amazing, they were all very nice people. We were very lucky to have the cuddle cot, we say that all the time. Being able to bring them home, albeit for a short while for a few days.

“We got to bond with them, read stories to them, and all the family met them and got to spend time with them so they felt like part of the family. When you lose a baby they could almost feel like not part of the family, but because everybody met them they made them real.

“We made an online donations page and shared it on social media. Through family and friends, we raised over £3,000- there were some amazingly kind and large donations.

“We wanted to fundraise for UHNM Charity so the Forget Me Not Suite could buy the cuddle cot because of the difference ours made to us. We especially wanted other families to be able to benefit and go through the same experience we did, and be able to bring them home. Some people don’t get the chance to, and I can’t say how much it helped us and helped us to grieve.

“You feel sad and can’t comprehend that somebody else is going to have to use it, but you feel good that you’re able to give them the chance to grieve properly and bring them home.”

🗣 Caroline Birchall, Bereavement Specialist Midwife added: “We would like to say a huge thank you Karis and Jack, as well as their family and friends and everybody who donated. There is an unfortunate demand for the cuddle cots, so having another unit will ensure as many parents and families as possible are able to benefit.”

To fundraise for UHNM Charity visit our website 👉 https://www.uhnmcharity.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise-for-us/