Parents’ thank you gift for saving Oliver
Oliver Bray was the inspiration for his parents fundraising efforts after he received life-saving treatment at Bostons Pilgrim Hospital and Nottingham City Hospital.
PILGRIM Hospital is set to benefit from vital new equipment, after receiving a donation of more than £10,000 from grateful parents who benefited from the hospital’s care first hand.
Rachel and Chris Bray, of Kirton, raised £10,461 for Pilgrim to say thank you for the care their son received when he suffered a life-threatening stroke during birth.
Baby Oliver was rushed into Pilgrim’s neonatal intensive care unit last January where he was resuscitated, ventilated and given a blood transfusion. He was later transferred to hospital in Nottingham.
Rachel, 32, said: “You cannot put a price on saving your baby’s life, but it is important that the hospital has all the equipment it needs.
“Both myself and Oliver needed a blood transfusion during the birth so I want to help raise awareness of people voluntarily giving blood as well because without that blood, Oliver would not be alive.”
Rachel and her friends have held a variety of events to raise money. She has already given £3,209 to Nottingham City Hospital and had raised £4,186 for Pilgrim before her efforts were boosted further with a £6,275 donation from the NatWest Communityforce fund.
The money will be spent on either a vein viewer, which will make it easier to give intravenous fluids or antibiotics to babies, or a new baby incubator.
Although Oliver has some brain damage on the left side he is now meeting all the key milestones for his development. He is being aided by physiotherapy and by staff in paediatrics.
Rachel added: “My husband, Chris, and I have been fundraising since January to raise as much money as possible for the hospitals that saved Oliver as a token of our appreciation.
“They do an amazing job and the care they give is second to none, not only to sick babies, but to premature babies too.
“We were told that we wouldn’t know how it would affect Oliver until he gets older, by way of movement and speech. We are just playing a waiting game now.”
Sharon Herbert, neonatal ward sister at the Pilgrim, praised the ‘heartfelt’ donation.
She said: “Rachel has raised thousands of pounds through her fundraising and we will ensure that we spend the money she has donated wisely.
“All donations are welcomed and we know that this one is particularly heartfelt.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Boston, Lincolnshire
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 26 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.