Baby Ben's Big Thank You to Wishaw General's Neonatal Staff
THE Smith family travelled almost 100 miles to present a £1500 cheque to Wishaw General’s neonatal unit.
Baby Ben had been cared for by the hospital’s staff after being born 14 weeks early, weighing only one pound and 12 ounces, on 9 February 2008.
Sadly his identical twin brother Owen could not be saved.
However, after eight weeks of loving care at Wishaw General, followed by six weeks in Cresswell Maternity Hospital, Ben was allowed home on 27 May – eight days after his due date - and now weighs over 11 lbs.
On Wednesday 30 July Ben, mum Lynsey and sisters Terri, 12, a pupil at Kirkcudbright Academy and nine-year-old Rebecca, a pupil at Johnston Primary, made the long journey from Kirkcudbright to say a huge thank you to the Wishaw staff.
Dad Derek, 35, who is a skipper on a fishing boat, was unable to make the journey due to his work commitments.
Lynsey, 32, who is a clerical assistant at Johnston Primary, said: “The staff at the neonatal unit at Wishaw were brilliant and did everything they could for Ben and Owen.
“Sadly Owen’s lungs were just too weak and we lost him but Ben survived and is doing everything a baby his age should be.
“His two sisters love him to bit and Terri has him spoilt rotten.
“She decided to walk the half marathon in Kirkcudbright to raise money and Rebecca helped in the fundraising.”
Lynsey continued: “No-one likes to think about neonatal unit until you need one and it’s amazing what they can do nowadays.
“We’d just like to thank everyone at the neonatal unit for their dedication and for going beyond the call of duty.
“We’d also like to thank everyone who helped us raise the money.”
Neonatal ward manager Sheila Miller said: “It was great to see Ben doing is doing so well and we always love to see how well our former patients are doing.
“I’d like to thank Derek, Lynsey, Terri and Rebecca for donating such a huge some of money.
“It is always very nice to know how much our efforts have been appreciated.”