A Preston woman is raising money for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at RPH, after her grandson Jack was born 16 weeks early.

Naomi McPartland will run the City of Preston 10k on Saturday 29 September to say thank you to the NICU at Sharoe Green Maternity Unit. The timing is apt, as September is NICU Awareness Month.

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Naomi’s daughter and Jack’s mum, Lauren, said: “I gave birth to Jack in February this year, at 23 weeks and 6 days gestation. He was 16 weeks early, weighed 620g, which is around 1lb 5oz, and he was given a 30% survival rate.

“Jack has beaten a collapsed lung, a heart attack, a hole in his heart, a brain bleed and is currently fighting chronic lung disease.

“Not many babies survive after being born that early, but Jack came home from the NICU on 17 June, after 134 days, and is a massive 13lb now.

“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, although it all became normal really quickly. Jack is still tube-fed and on oxygen. He’s our first baby so we don’t know any other way of parenting, but nappies are easy compared to getting the tubes in!

“The thing is that premature babies aren’t usually that premature, but he’s a very impatient boy with a very big attitude! Sometimes I don’t know how we’ve got through it all but Jack makes it easier. It’s amazing how far he’s come, it really is. He’s my everything.”

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During Jack’s stay at the NICU, Lauren spent between six and eight hours by his side every day. She says she owes everything to the staff there.

“I wouldn’t have my son without them, they saved my family. It’s an amazing unit full of amazing staff, yet they still don’t have everything they need. We want to pay them back any way we can.”

To donate to Naomi’s fundraising, visit her JustGiving page.

What do you think of Jack’s story? Have you benefited from the support at the NICU? Let us know in the comments below