A mother has given birth to premature twins — in separate months. Hayley Burgess, 34, gave birth to Charlie and Layla nine weeks early, delivering Charlie at 11.30pm on September 30 and twin sister Layla at 10 minutes past midnight on October 1.
Both babies are currently being cared for at the neonatal unit at Wirral Women and Children’s Hospital. They are expected to be there for another six weeks, in separate rooms. Ms Burgess, from Prenton, Merseyside, told the Liverpool Echo: "I came in at 9.10pm and by 12.10am in the morning, I’d had both of them. The midwife was great, she stayed up with me all night speaking to me. The staff are amazing."
Following her experience, Ms Burgess decided to raise funds for the Tiny Stars appeal, which has been launched by WUTH Charity, the charitable arm of Wirral University Teaching Hospital. She said: "Layla is in intensive care and Charlie is in a separate room. I know how difficult it is having babies in two separate rooms. The appeal is raising money to make the facility bigger and I want to raise as much money as possible to help other babies and mums. It will make all the difference."
To help the appeal, she launched a Spot the Ball competition and put donation boxes out in cafes and pubs at the weekend, resulting in huge support from the public as well as family and friends. Ms Burgess, who has worked in pubs for many years, said: "It’s a community and every time there is a charity event, everyone pulls together. In just a day the word spread and I’ve had people wanting to help across Merseyside."
All funds raised by the WUTH Charity Tiny Stars appeal will go towards the complete refurbishment of the intensive care unit that specialises in the treatment of our ill or premature new-born infants. The Neonatal Unit is one of two Level 3 (highest level) intensive care units in Merseyside and Cheshire. It is the only unit in the area to provide both adult and Level 3 neonatal intensive care on the same site at Arrowe Park, meaning sick mums who have poorly babies can be cared for in the same hospital.
Victoria Burrows, Head of Fundraising at WUTH Charity added: "We are really grateful to Hayley for her fundraising towards the appeal and are overwhelmed by the support that has been given. This is an important appeal that will help some of the most poorly babies and their families. We also wish Layla and Charlie all the best while they are being cared for at the unit."
For more information about WUTH Charity and the Tiny Stars appeal, email wuth.charity@nhs.net or to donate to Ms Burgess’s JustGiving fundraiser, click here.
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