Preemie mum thanks hospital staff for saving both their lives

A mother, whose baby was born at just 24 weeks has returned to thank hospital staff for saving their lives.

Aimee discovered that she had a serious lung condition and was three weeks pregnant on attending A&E in Nottingham. Further investigations into her lung condition were delayed due to the pregnancy, leading to her health worsening.

She was subsequently referred to Cambridge’s Royal Papworth Hospital, where she gave birth to Jessica after going into premature labour. A few days after her daughter arrived, Aimee suffered a cardiac arrest and underwent a double lung transplant.

Fight to survive

Aimee explained how “frightening” it was after the Caesarean section, saying: “I knew I had a baby but I did not know where she was.” However, she shared, “When she was placed into my arms it was a real breath-taking moment”.

The mother described her daughter as a “fighter”, stating: “you could tell she had the fight to survive. She still has that fight now.”

Both recently visited hospital staff who had cared for them. Catherine Barlow, the midwife who delivered Jessica, said that when she last saw her “she was absolutely tiny and would have fitted into my hands”.

She added: “it is really nice to see her looking so healthy and well”.

300 lives

New statistics for England and Wales have shown that abortions increased by 11 per cent on the previous year, and are the highest they have ever been.

Government figures show that in 2023 – the latest figures available – 300 abortions took place after the usual 24-week limit, with ten of those being for children with Down’s syndrome.

The Christian Institute’s Head of Communications Angus Saul said the figures were “absolutely harrowing”.

“Everyone who values life across England and Wales must surely be grieved at this dramatic increase in abortions. These are not simply statistics. Each one was a unique human life, created in the image of God; and that life was snatched away before they could even take a breath.”