Premature babies have received a visit from Father Christmas to help brighten up the festive period for them.
The special visit was made to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where Father Christmas got to meet with some very premature babies and their families. The babies were able to get their photographs taken with the festive icon, adding some Christmas cheer to what may otherwise be a tough time of year for the tiny babies and their families.
The assistant nurse manager in the NICU, Darcrea Spinks, said, “They get to have a family photo that feels normal. Something they can send out on a Christmas card or share with family like, ‘we got to see Santa’”.
“The healing journey is not just physical. It’s also very much emotional”, she added.
The Christmas event was made possible by a group of former parents of babies who spent time in the NICU, who volunteer their time to offer support to families going through the tough stage of having a loved one in the NICU.
Alicia Harper, one of the volunteers, said, “So mums and dads that just kind of want to give out to our current families and just share relatable experience, that we’ve kind of been in your shoes”.
“I hope [the Father Christmas visit] just gives them a sense of companionship”, Harper continued. “Not that they’re alone, because as much as you feel alone during this time, you’re not”.
Baby Teddy was one of the premmies visited by Father Christmas
One such family who experienced the joy of a special visit from Father Christmas was baby Theodora, affectionately called Teddy, and her mother, Mary Augustine. Little Teddy was born prematurely on Hallowe’en at only 26 weeks gestation.
“She came out very premature, very low birth weight”, her mother said. “Couldn’t breathe on her own, couldn’t eat on her own”.
Now, after more than a month in the NICU, Teddy’s family are appreciative of the unexpected positive experiences that having a premature baby has given them.
Mary said that the family were not meant to have “Christmas with Teddy until 2026. But we get to have it a year early”.
“We get to do special things like this. It’s nice. It’s great to share in the experience”, she added.
Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said “It is wonderful to hear of this joyous initiative that is sure to bring some extra joy to the lives of premature babies and their families who may unexpectedly be spending a lot of this Christmas period in the NICU”.
“It is clear from the experience of Mary Augustine and her baby Teddy that such special occasions mean a great deal to families, and we would like to express our gratitude to the volunteers who make them possible”.
