A young girl who was born 13 weeks premature is now raising money for the neonatal unit that saved her life.
Summer Best was born at just 27 weeks gestation on 8 May 2015 in Manchester. She was critically ill and had to be put on a ventilator.
During her time in hospital, Summer suffered from breathing difficulties, heart problems, and two bleeds on the brain. She was ventilated multiple times, received numerous different medications, and underwent several blood transfusions. After spending three months in hospital, she was finally able to go home. Her mother says she has suffered no lasting damage.
“She’s our miracle”, said mum Rachel Best, recalling how doctors urged her to visit Summer urgently just one day after the birth. “I didn’t believe she would be coming home until she was about seven weeks – that’s when I started to think she was going to make it”.
Now 10 years old, Summer is determined to give back to others. After learning about poverty at her school, she began “Summer’s Mission”, a project supporting local food banks and collecting essentials for children in need, including Easter eggs and Christmas selection boxes.
Summer has also raised thousands of pounds for charities across Manchester and, most recently, has turned her attention to the neonatal unit that saved her life. She is fundraising to provide additional support for families and staff and to help refurbish the unit’s family room.
“She loves giving back”, her mum said. “Though she doesn’t really realise just how much it’s helping others”.
Despite having three fractures in her back following a fall from a horse, Summer recently completed a four-mile sponsored walk for the unit. She’s been so successful that she has also donated items to St Mary’s Hospital’s neonatal unit in Manchester.
Summer said, “I’m really grateful for all the amazing businesses and people who always support me”.
“It makes me so happy knowing they believe in me and are always there to help”.
Improved survival rates for extremely premature babies
The survival rates for extremely premature babies like Summer have significantly improved in recent decades. A 2008 study looking at survival rates for a neonatal intensive care unit in London found that neonatal survival rates at 22 and 23 weeks gestation had improved over time. In 1981-85, no babies who were born at these gestational ages survived to discharge. However, by 1986-90, 19% did and this increased to 54% in the period 1996-2000.
In the decade to 2019 alone, the survival rate for extremely premature babies born at 23 weeks doubled, prompting new guidance from the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) that enables doctors to intervene to save premature babies from 22 weeks gestation. The previous clinical guidance, drafted in 2008, set the standard that babies who were born before 23 weeks gestation should not be resuscitated.
Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said “Summer is yet another example of a prematurely born baby going on to thrive and a continued reminder of the humanity of babies born at very early gestations”.
