Paul Vincent took on the London Marathon earlier this year to raise funds for the neonatal unit at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Paul’s motivation was deeply personal, as his son Noah was born prematurely and spent the initial weeks of his life under the care of the Special Care Baby Unit at Watford General Hospital.
West Herts infant feeding lead nurse Sarah Guest (pictured below right), said “Paul very kindly raised over £1,800 to buy the neonatal unit seven new small double breast pumps for our parents to use at home or at their baby’s cot side. Most premature or sick babies do very well on expressed breast milk when they are not yet able to breastfeed, due to the protective properties of mothers’ own milk. We encourage our parents to express here in the hospital, but also at home, 8-10 times a day, to ensure their milk supply increases appropriately.”
Paul’s fundraising achievement brings relief to families facing the challenges of neonatal care.
“Paul’s fundraising means that our families are able to borrow a small breast pump from their baby’s day of birth to their day of discharge, free of charge.
This can be for several weeks in some cases, and having access to a pump at home, as well as here in the hospital, ensures that as many parents as possible have the chance to give their baby their precious milk.”
Infant feeding lead nurse, Sarah Guest
Paul, reflecting on his marathon journey and fundraising, shared, “I was over the moon when I got a place in the ballot. It meant, at long last, I was able to give something back to the Special Care Baby Unit at West Herts where Noah was cared for.”
Thank you Paul for your kindness and generosity and for making a difference for the Special Care Baby Unit at Watford General.
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