Robyn's Story

In June 1989, weighing one pound and 10 ounces (otherwise known as 737 grams!) I made my rather early entrance into the world at the John Radcliffe Hospital. Under the expert care of Dr Kevin Ives and Dr Peter Hope (who is much missed) I was cared for in the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) for 107 days and discharged home in on 29th September 1989 (and my original due date would have been around that day, had I not arrived at 25 weeks instead of 40!) I was looked after by so many nurses including Caroline

According to family lore, I know the following things:

· I weighed less than a bag of sugar

· Had the head the size of an orange

· A body the length of a banana

· And was smaller than a Chihuahua!

I was christened in the Unit by the Chaplain of Christ Church Cathedral at the time, Revd. Craig Hill (who we are still in touch with and now lives in America). This was very important to my parents as they have a strong Christian faith. In terms of ethics and so on at the time, it was still possible to have an abortion up till 28 weeks’ gestation then and a result, my parents were NOT allowed to register my birth until I had surpassed this point in time (so I had to live for 3 weeks without ethically being considered alive!)

Without the amazing care of all the medical, nursing and other staff at SCBU and the support of SSNAP, it is quite true to say that I would not be here today. The whole experience is one which I feel relatively detached from, as whilst I did (thankfully and happily) live through it, it is not one I am aware of.

I do live with the ongoing impact of premature birth complications today including left-sided hemiplegia as a result of a brain haemorrhage when I was 2 days old but I am happy to say I am a qualified Occupational Therapist (the desire to train as this was inspired by the NHS input I received as a child). I now work in an education and training role supporting others to become Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Dieticians, Podiatrists and Speech and Language Therapists via an apprenticeship route. I have also learned to drive, own my own home and enjoy a wide range of social activities and hobbies.

Life hasn’t been and isn’t without its challenges and I am a regular attendee at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and Oxford Centre for Enablement for ongoing rehab and input for my cerebral palsy and associated conditions but I am fortunate that I am able to live a fulfilled life with a good level of independence and support as needed from dear friends and family. I have followed SSNAP’s journey with great interest and think the work which SCBU and SSNAP do is absolutely fantastic.

I am delighted to donate some funds to SSNAP on the occasion of my 35th birthday and happy to visit the unit almost 35 years to the day since I was discharged. A heartfelt and sincere thank you from me – even though that will never truly be enough.

My lovely Dad John found it helpful to express some of his emotions around my birth as a poem, which we are pleased to share here. This poem was written in tribute and gratitude to all the medical, nursing and staff team at SCBU who gave me life.