Bolton NICU

On the 9th April 2022, our beautiful baby girl Halle Elizabeth Jean Haynes arrived a little to early into this world, weighing a tiny 839 grams and at 25 weeks 4 days!

I arrived at Bolton Hospital expecting to be told everything was fine, and I just needed to rest. But what actually happened was something you can never be prepared for. “Your cervix is dilating and your baby is coming” I can’t begin to explain the rush of emotions I felt, surly she’s wrong, surly this can’t happen to me it’s too soon? But it was, 3 hours later our little Halle arrived. As quick as she arrived she was rushed away by a team of angels who stabilised her and took her to the NICU world. A world that you will never understand unless you’ve experienced it.

The first 5 days was emotional torture, I was unable to see Halle as I tested positive for Covid. I was heartbroken my little baby girl on her own without her family.

But she wasn’t on her own, she was surrounded by nurses, doctors and consultants who where immediately by her side. Who updated us daily, arranged daily video calls so we could see her, constantly reassured us every day of Halle’s progress. I will never forget the first time I could see Halle, I broke down. I can’t explain what it feels like to see your baby fighting so hard in an incubator. That feeling of helplessness, you’ve no idea what the bleeping is for, what the screens mean.

Every nurse, doctor and consultant on this ward has been my backbone, and my inner strength.

Nurse Zowie who’s been with me from the start, Eddy, Beth and both Kelly’s, Liz, Francesca, Emma, Nicole and Sam.

Nurse Hannah who encourages me to read to Halle, takes the time to explain to be the positives of doing so. Nurse, Beca, Abigail, Chau, Jess, Lorraine, and Emily. Nurse Trish who made Halle’s big sister the most beautiful Holy communion card.

This is for you, for standing with every mummy and daddy who battle on with their little ones.

Who share every milestone every weight gain, every milestone hit, and every feed tolerated, every wet nappy every dirty nappy. I’m sure I can speak for every mummy and daddy when I say this, but THANK YOU!

Halle’s Daddy, and her two uncles are running the Manchester 10k. We’re running for Halle, and for every baby who’s had a stay in Bolton NICU. For every parent who’s walked this path, 1 night or 100 it’s tough, and we stand strong, we stand together.

100% of this money raised is for BOLTON NICU so they can continue to support parents on this journey, because without them this journey would be so much harder.

£1, £2.50, £5, £10, £20 whatever you can afford to donate will help them to continue to run initiatives there’s no funding for, to ensure every parent has the same support.

Thank you Bolton NICU!