Last Saturday was World Prematurity Day and also marked 101 days since my little grandson was born an amazing 14 weeks early. We have been extremely lucky and he has exceeded all expectations over the last 15 weeks, but it has certainly been a roller-coaster ride for his mum and dad. Throughout there time in hospital they have received the support of the charity Bliss.
Bliss was founded in 1979 by a group of concerned parents who discovered that no hospital had all the equipment nor the trained staff it needed to safely care for premature and sick babies. Determined to do something these volunteers formed a charity to give vulnerable babies the care they deserve. Almost 40 years later Bliss has grown into the leading UK charity for the 95,000 babies born needing neonatal care every year.
They have been so grateful for the support they have received that they decided to hold a fundraiser for World Prematurity Day with all proceeds going to Bliss. Friends and family duly collected raffle prizes, which obviously included a crocheted blanket by yours truly, as well as other wonderful prizes. There was also lots of other activities including a tombola, cake stall, face painting and name the teddy to name but a few. Overall they managed to raise a whopping £530 in just two hours with a further £320 raised through a just giving page making a fantastic total of £850.
My waffle stitch blanket was won by my sons partner's manager so we know it has gone to a good home. I did wonder if her gran and her sisters had come a long and bought up all the tickets as they had admired it so much the week before. This may well have set a president should they decide to make this fundraiser an annual event.
And name the Teddy? Well there were actually two teddies and the names that were picked were Button and Trevor and they have now gone to their new homes..
And finally came the best piece of news when at last this little button left hospital to go home with his mummy and daddy and Ralph cat.
Happy Days
Mx
Yeah, I'm so happy for you and your family!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Janice. I think they will now go through a period of transition to settle in at home and finally get to enjoy their baby and some family time.
ReplyDeleteMitzi x
Fantastic news that little Freddie is home at last where he belongs. What a great achievement raising all that money for such a worthwhile cause, the charity does such great work.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jo. Yes they were very excited as well as a little apprehensive but they will soon settle into a routine I'm sure. Best Christmas present for them all.
DeleteMitzi
Isn't BLISS a great charity … I've heard others say they do fantastic work. Well done to all for raising that amount.
ReplyDeleteI was so pleased when I read the great news that little Freddie is now home, that is just wonderful.
All the best Jan
Thank you Jan. They seem to be coping amazingly well at home considering he still has an oxygen requirement. They are now enjoying their baby at home before my son has to return to work next week.
DeleteMitzi
I'm a reader from afar (North Carolina, US) and don't usually comment, but so glad your grandson is home. Before I retired from my law practice my specialty was kernicterus cases, a disability arising from inadequately treated newborn jaundice. So most of my clients were infants and many were premies. My own daughter was born in London many years ago. My blog is not as personal as yours, but perhaps you will enjoy it. It always amazes me how wide the audiences are for blogs and how much commonality they bring out. Nina Naomi wwwninanaomimindfulsimpleliving.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteHi Nina
DeleteThank you so much for leaving a comment. They are doing amazingly well in their little family and enjoying a few days of just the three of them before my son returns to work. He did have a touch of jaundice and had to go under the lamp with his mask on. We said he looked like he was off for a spa day or off to the disco. I will pop over and have a look at your blog.
Hope you will stop by again.
M x
Such lovely news Mitzi. X
ReplyDeleteThank you Eloise. They were very excited about getting home and are enjoying a few days of just the three of them before my son returns to work.
DeleteMx
Happy news indeed. Hope everything is settling down and they are enjoying all the joys of family life.
ReplyDeleteHuge congrats on the fundraising, what a great total they collected.
Lisa x
They are settling in to their little family away from the hospital and the physio has been out to see them and happy with his progress.
DeleteMitzi