Regional Winners of The South West
Maternity Unit, Poole Hospital, Dorset.
Sharon Keeley’s son, Declan, was born 13 weeks premature on 22 January 2004. He weighed just 2lb 6oz and was on a ventilator from birth. He also suffered a serious heart murmur, and an infection which caused his weight to plummet to less than 2lbs. In her letter nominating the Maternity Unit, Sharon describes the staff as “Declan’s Angels”. They cared for Declan for the 12 weeks he was in hospital – a worrying time for Sharon and her partner, Darren who is serving in the British Army in Iraq.
Once, after Declan went home, Sharon had to give him mouth to mouth resuscitation. She says “If it wasn’t for the training I was given at the hospital, I wouldn’t have known what to do. I can never repay Pauline and the rest of the staff. I’ll always be in their debt – they gave me the most precious gift I could ever wish for – my son’s life.” Declan is now becoming less oxygen dependent and coming on ‘leaps and bounds.’
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