Nephie Mirakel For James Cook NICU
We are raising money to donate to the James Cook Neonatal Unit at Middlesbrough. The team and unit hold a special place in our hearts after caring for our extremely premature son Nephie Geoffrey Mirakel Hogarth.
Daddy Geoff and Mummy Natasha spent months prior to conception at James Cook University Hospital having tests and then started IVF treatment. After a successful first round, they found out they were expecting.
Nephie was born at 26+6 weeks on 28th September 2019, he was a tiny 15oz. After his mummy’s waters broke at 19 weeks, Nephie was without barely any amniotic fluid so when he was born his lungs were severely under developed. He spent several weeks intubated on the ventilator, over the weeks he gained weight and his feeds continued to increase, he was extubated onto Bipap, then Cpap. He moved from intensive care room 1 to room 2, growing bigger and stronger. He went down to High Flow and He was able to wear a vest for the first time. He moved to room 3, tried his first bottle, was allowed to wear proper baby outfits and put into an open cot. He was going from strength to strength, put down to Low Flow and moved to room 4, there was even talk about transferring to Scarborough before coming home. But Nephie fell ill with his first cold and took a side step back to room 3 and up to High Flow again, so the transfer was off the cards. Nephie powered on and was back down to low flow in no time, on Boxing Day his monitor was turned off and the transfer was mentioned again because he was doing so well. On 28th December Nephie took ill again, he was struggling to breath. He had to be intubated again and was back on life support where he started out 3 months before. His infection marker was high and came back as positive for RSV. This is the common cold to any normal term baby or child but to premature babies it can be life threatening. Nephie deteriorated rapidly. The consultants and Doctors were running out of options, the oscillator and nitric oxcide were a last resort. Unfortunately they didn’t help Nephie and over the following couple weeks we had several meetings to discuss ‘comfort care’ and our wishes for ‘the end’. On 17th January 2020, Nephie spent his final time with special Mummy and Daddy cuddles, his first bath and a professional photo shoot.
The Neonatal Unit at James Cook are amazing and we would like to raise money for their unit to help other premature and sick babies. Many people have followed our journey with Nephie so we ask if you can spare anything to help us give back to the incredible unit who gave us 4 precious months with our Nephie Mirakel. Nephie passed away at 5lb 15oz, 5lb more than we ever expected. Every penny donated will be given to the James Cook Neonatal Unit. We will not personally make any financial gain from these donations.
