Woody was born at 24 weeks, weighing just 1lb 13oz. His dad James tells his story…
Woodruff (Woody) was born very premature at 24 weeks and five days, weighing a tiny 1lb 13oz, at the Princess Royal Hospital in Hayward’s Heath. He was then moved by ambulance to the Trevor Mann Baby Unit (TMBU) in Brighton where he was placed in one of the specialist incubators. Woody’s dad James remembers how scary the situation felt, he explains:
“I can say that without doubt it was the most worrying and anxious time of our lives. Not knowing what would happen or how things were to follow – having your tiny baby cared for in the TMBU can be daunting and overwhelming. However, thanks to the dedicated care and support of the staff, we soon began to feel comfortable and we were encouraged to play an active part in Woody’s care on the ward.
My wife Charlotte and I were astounded and most grateful that from the moment Woody was born, the care he and we received was second to none. I do not think that there is anything that can prepare parents for a premature birth but having such good care eased our long journey considerably. Woody was in the TMBU for five months and despite times when his health was not always as good as doctors hoped it would be, he battled the odds to become stronger day by day.
When he was finally allowed home we were overjoyed. We consider ourselves to be extremely lucky that Woody was in such safe and determined hands. It is a fact that he simply would not be here with us if it were not for the TMBU and the staff involved. Woody is now five years old and is a happy and active little boy who enjoys playing with his older brother and loves all things Star Wars, Harry Potter and Lego.
There is no advice in the world that can make this journey an easy one but with a parents love, support and willing for their baby mixed with the wealth of knowledge, care and experience of the consultants and nurses at the TMBU you can do no more.
James, Woody’s dad.
As a vital supporter of the TMBU, here at Rockinghorse we continue to work closely with the medical team to establish areas where we can make a real impact to the care of premature babies. In the last three years we have raised over £100,000 for life saving equipment, such as incubators and monitors, and all donations received help make sure that local babies have the best care possible.