Hi, my name is Caitlin, and I am raising money to help my family during the most devastating and unexpected time of our lives.

On 9th January, I was involved in a car accident that was not my fault. I was 25 weeks and 4 days pregnant at the time and had experienced a completely healthy pregnancy up until that point.

I attended Basildon Hospital’s maternity unit, where I was told they were unable to monitor the baby’s movements as I was not yet 26 weeks pregnant. I was advised to return if I experienced severe pain or bleeding.

On 12th January, something didn’t feel right. My baby’s movements felt weaker, and I was experiencing stomach pain. I returned to the maternity unit — now exactly 26 weeks pregnant. As soon as they began monitoring, an emergency alarm was pressed and I was rushed for a Category 1 emergency C-section due to fetal bradycardia.

Our baby boy was transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where his dad and I have now been staying for four weeks.

Since his birth, he has faced more challenges than any baby should. He has suffered:

• A Grade 4 brain bleed on the right side

• A Grade 2 brain bleed on the left

• A pulmonary haemorrhage

• NEC, resulting in 50% of his small intestine being removed and a stoma formed

• Sepsis, which progressed into meningitis

• Seizures

• Increasing fluid on the brain, requiring upcoming brain surgery to insert a reservoir

He is also awaiting further surgery to reconnect his bowel.

Despite everything, he is fighting — and he is fighting hard.

At home, we have two other children who are an hour and a half away from the hospital. Their routines have been completely disrupted, and we see them whenever we possibly can.

We are currently living in hospital accommodation, but this is not guaranteed and we do not know how long we will be allowed to stay. My partner is self-employed and, due to these exceptional circumstances, has not been able to access financial support. He tried to return to work briefly, but his tools were stolen from the job.

To add to this, the courtesy car we have must be returned next week. My car has been written off, and the insurance payout offered is only half of what we paid for it. Without a car, we will struggle to travel between the hospital and our children at home.

We never imagined we would have to ask for help like this. We have thought long and hard before setting up this fundraiser. But right now, we need support to ease the financial pressure so we can focus entirely on our children — especially our baby boy, who is fighting for his life in NICU.

Any support, no matter how small, would mean the world to us.

Thank you so much for reading and for any help you are able to give.