Parents of premature babies are volunteering and raising money for Liverpool Women’s Neonatal Unit.
Walton mum Kelly Farrell was moved to act after being indebted to the unit following the birth of her daughter Lillie, who arrived 15 weeks early. Lillie weighed less than 2lbs when she was born in 2008, and Kelly was told it was not likely that her daughter was going to make it.
Lillie , who now is five years old and healthy, stayed at Liverpool Women’s Hospital’s neonatal unit for seven months. Two years later, Kelly had her boy Sean, who came 10 weeks early.
After her experiences at the neonatal unit, the 31-year-old is now one of ten parents working as volunteers at the hospital, supporting parents who are going through the same experiences.
Farrell, who works full-time as a social worker, told JMU Journalism: “We have decided to raise money for the neonatal unit and the Best Beginnings project. People have come forward to support us, and are fond of what we are doing.”
Liverpool Women’s Neonatal Unit is one of the biggest in the country, and takes yearly care of more than 1,000 babies, from the Isle of Man, North Wales and other areas of the country. It is estimated that it costs £1,500 a day to keep a baby alive.
The volunteers are now arranging a fundraiser at the Hilton Hotel on May 5th, where they hope to raise £10,000 for the neonatal unit and the charity Best Beginnings.
Simon Greening from Radio City will host the event, where there will be an auction, raffle and artists will perform, including Cassana Rason, who will release her charity single called ‘Tiny Hands’. Rason is the mother of three premature babies, and will raise money for children in need of special care.