Earlier this week, Andy paid a visit to the offices of the SSNAP – Support for the Sick Newborn and their Parents Charity with donations given on behalf of the tiniest of youngsters.
Earlier in April, the charity based within the women’s centre of the John Radcliffe Hospital, put out an appeal for donations of activity and colouring books after their stocks had run low. The idea of the activity books within the family rooms is designed to keep siblings entertained whilst their poorly brother or sister born within SCBU (that SSNAP exists to support) are confined to incubators.
On Monday afternoon Andy was delighted to meet Emma Cantrell, the Charity Director, who hand over donations on behalf of Play2Give, pictured above, including knitted teddies in many forms and guises. The knitted items will be sold for the charity and also given to sick babies.
The brothers and sisters of the poorly babies on the Neonatal Unit will enjoy these donations very much. Our Andy was a SCBU baby nearly 30 years ago.
Andy fought for life upon birth for many days with breathing (deprivation of oxygen) and feeding difficulties, after suffering a peri-natal brain injury. Nearly 30 years on, he and his mum was delighted to visit the unit and see how a difference fundraising makes to those who come into contact within the neonatal unit. Medical equipment in the 1980’s was a lot different to today, when such specialised and high-tech diagnostic and medical pieces of kits didn’t exist when Andy was born.
SSNAP as a charity is dedicated to supporting the families of sick and premature babies. They provide emotional and practical support to those families, funding innovative and life changing equipment (for example essentials like breast pumps and reclining chairs for improved kangaroo care) and research fellowships ensure lasting change to how babies are cared for and treated in neonatal units here in the UK and around the world, thanks to leading researchers who carry out groundbreaking research.
Andy and Emma of the charity are now exploring more ways to work together, and we are looking forward to plans of organising a family fun day together jointly to raise funds for SSNAP for the summer of 2019 in the grounds of the John Radcliffe Hospital. For Andy, another great example of another great way to give back to those who saved his life at birth.
