Mother’s charity pledge to hospital that saved son’s life

Katie Padley, of South Elmsall, near Pontefract, gave birth to Karamo after 27 weeks.

The youngster was rushed straight to Sheffield Children’s Hospital following his delivery by emergency Caesarean section when he weighed just 2lb 2oz.

She said: “I couldn’t see him straight away and all I wanted was to be with him.

“It was awful, not knowing if he would live or not. When my waters broke they said he wouldn’t live, but he held on for two more weeks. But still, he was very ill. He couldn’t breathe on his own, I couldn’t hold him. It was so upsetting.”

He was treated on the neonatal surgical unit where he needed a ventilator to breathe and was treated for chronic lung disease. But four months after he was admitted, he was discharged home 11 days after his due date in December last year.

Now the 27-year-old has pledged to raise money for The Children’s Hospital Charity including a fun day and raffle at a playgroup in Pontefract.

“I can’t thank the staff enough for what they did,” she said.

“They saved him. When he was discharged, I just burst into tears. We just couldn’t wait to get him home. Last Christmas, Karamo was still suffering with reflux, so although this will be our second Christmas since he was discharged, it will be special. Karamo is more alert and able to understand what is going on. It will be a great Christmas.”

The Children’s Hospital Charity has funded thousands of pounds worth of specialist equipment for the neonatal ward, to help babies get better more quickly. In September, it donated a portable neonatal ultrasound machine, costing £54,000, which allows the hospital’s tiniest patients to be scanned from their cots.

The charity has also paid for upgrades to the ward and clinic room, including adding dimmable lighting for individual bays.