"A Journey of Care, Compassion, and Gratitude: Our Story"

After spending three weeks in hospital due to my own ill health, we were faced with the difficult but necessary news that, for the safety of both myself and our baby, it was time to deliver.

Our daughter was born at 28 weeks, weighing just 2lb 9oz. She spent a total of 10 weeks in hospital, split between Wishaw and Glasgow. The first four weeks were spent in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), and then she was transferred to Glasgow for further investigation. During her time there, she needed to be ventilated, which was terrifying for us as parents. We stayed at Ronald McDonald House to ensure we were as close to her as possible.

In just two weeks, she went from being ventilated to breathing entirely on her own, which was a huge relief. She did not require any surgery, and we were able to return to Wishaw. There, she spent another 3.5 weeks in the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU).

Just days before we were set to go home, we were told that she would need to go home on oxygen. This was a huge shock, but we knew it was the best thing for her. We spent the final 3 days in the Transitional Care Unit (TCU) to help us adjust and prepare for life at home with a baby on oxygen. At the time, it felt overwhelming, but it quickly became part of our daily life.

Our time in the NICU taught us invaluable lessons:

You will experience every emotion possible in a single day.

•Celebrate every win, no matter how small.

•Ask questions—even if you think they might be silly.

•Leaving your baby in the hospital overnight is one of the hardest things you will ever do, but the only comfort we found was knowing she was in the hands of the best possible care. I will never be able to fully express how thankful we are to the incredible staff at University Hospital Wishaw and Royal Hospital for Children Glasgow for looking after our daughter until she was ready to come home.

The personal approach to care, always keeping us fully informed and involved in decisions about our daughter's care really made a difference to our journey. Thank you so much for always being there to listen and understand with such care and compassion. The NICU staff are truly some of the most special people, and we are forever indebted to them for keeping our baby safe.

Today, our daughter is a healthy, happy, and thriving 1-year-old, thanks to the exceptional care she received. We will forever be grateful.