Having a ball raises thousands for Burnley Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Amelia, from Edenfield in Rossendale, raised the money by holding a glitter tattoo and bracelet stall at the village fete, helped by her sister Annabel Welsh and friend Robyn Brace, followed by a night of glitz and glamour at a black-tie ball. Both events were organised in a bid to ‘give back’ and provide support for other families and babies who went through what she and her husband Joshua did.

Amelia said: “Barnaby was born in October last year - six weeks early. The pregnancy was smooth until the day before he was born when I woke up feeling extremely unwell in the night, unable to get warm and feeling dizzy.

“The following morning, I went to my prearranged midwife appointment and was sent to Burnley General Teaching Hospital but after a few hours Barnaby’s heart rate went sky high, so the decision was made to deliver him via emergency caesarean section – there and then.”

Barnaby was born extremely unwell and struggling to breathe. Taken to NICU, Amelia and Joshua received the terrifying news that their son had a collapsed lung and would need a chest drain.

Amelia added: “I went into complete panic mode but the nurse on the post-natal ward was so kind and I couldn’t have got through the night without her. The staff were truly phenomenal. It was the worst and most challenging time of mine and my husband’s life and we don’t know where we would have been without their support and kindness.

“Throughout the whole process the nurses were my absolute rock and kept us informed and calm throughout. Once Barnaby was stable, they gave us the confidence to start basic care for him.”

But there was one nurse in particular who stood out for Amelia, a lady called Debbie – she even attended the fundraising ball.

Amelia explained: “Debbie, made us feel so safe and secure and you could tell she cared for the babies like they were her own. After 10 days of no more than two hours sleep at a time Debbie fed Barnaby through the night and allowed me to finally get a full night’s sleep. It was amazing.”

Barnaby was discharged after just two weeks and is now thriving. Laid back and cheeky, he adores his big sister Ada and has just started nursery.

The couple couldn’t imagine life without him.

Amelia adds: “I honestly cannot express my gratitude in words for the NICU team – not just for the care they gave Barnaby, but the wrap around support given to me and his dad and I just wanted to give back, even in a small way to say thank you and hopefully provide support for other families and babies.

Ameila and Barnaby presented a cheque of £2,206.44 to the team at ELHT&Me, based at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital.

Head of Charity Denise Barrett-Wilson said: “We are extremely grateful to Amelia for going to such lengths to organise two successful community events in aid of raising funds for ELHT&Me.

“These donations go a long way in helping support vital and exceptional services within East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, and on this occasion choosing to support NICU will make a big difference in helping other families and babies.

“We really are grateful, so thank you.”

If you would like to know about more ways to get involved and fundraise for ELHT&Me visit www.elhtandme.co.uk.