A TEESDALE couple have raised hundreds of pounds for a hospital unit that saved the life of their prematurely born child three times.
Michael England and his partner Anna Leathley, from Winston, owe their daughter Millie’s life to Darlington Memorial Hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit after she
was born three-and-a-half months premature in November last year.
Ms Leathley had suffered a rare condition during her pregnancy, which led to repeated haemorrhaging because of a bursting artery next to her cervix. She spent five weeks at Darlington hospital before her baby was born.
Ms Leathley said: “I was given ten blood transfusions, fluids and lots of care.”
Little Mille weighed only 2lbs when she was born and spent the next 72 days in care at the unit. Ms Leathley said: “They saved her life three times because of bowel infections. They diagnosed her with a twisted bowel and sent her straight up to the RVI (Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary).
“They were just absolutely amazing. They were full of support and they were always there to talk to us even though they were short-staffed.”
To mark the anniversary of Millie’s birth, the grateful father put his chef skills to good use by hosting an afternoon tea at Winston Village Hall last month. Some 70 people attended the event, raising £660 for Your NHS Charity, with the cash being directed to the baby unit in Darlington.
Ms Leathley assisted by baking cakes, while village hall member and caterer Paula Harrison also helped out with arrangements for the fundraiser. Mr England recently took up the chef’s post at Whorlton’s Bridge Inn where people can continue to support the efforts through a collection bucket at the bar.
