Children at Peterborough City Hospital get special festive treat thanks to generous donation

Peterborough City Hospital’s youngest patients and their families received a special treat on Christmas Day, thanks to a generous donation to the

The donation to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).was led by a group of families who had spent time in the unit with their children. Together they raised money to buy Christmas gifts for the babies as well as their parents and siblings, neonatal clothes and food for the family kitchen.

Gifts were delivered Krissma and Matthew Coleman, Toni Boon-Knighton, and Ben Feighery.

Krissma and Matthew’s twin girls spent three months in the unit after being born at 27 weeks due to complications. Along with their family and friends, they raised £600. Their friend Adam and his colleagues completed a Spartan race and the girls’ Grandma and staff at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue held a cake sale and raffle.

“We wanted to give back to the unit to thank them for the care they gave our daughters,” said Matthew. “The staff saved their lives, and for that, they will forever hold a special place in our hearts. They cared for their girls like their own and supported us through a really difficult time. Family and friends have been fantastic – everyone wanted to help in some way to thank the amazing nurses and doctors on the unit.

The unit also cared for Toni and Kevin’s son in 2016. Toni coordinated the collection of donated items from the Parents of Peterborough NICU Facebook Group. She said: “We try and do something in the group each Christmas to say thank you for everything they did for our babies. It’s a message from the group to any parents with a baby currently on the ward, that they aren’t alone and that people are thinking of them. My husband and I will always be thankful for everything they did for our son during his stay.”

Julie Ince, Deputy Ward Manager on NICU, said: “We are touched by the generosity of everyone who either raised money or donated gifts. Christmas is going to be difficult for many people this year, but especially those with babies in hospital. These gifts will ensure their first Christmas is still a special day. I would like to thank Krissma and Mathew, Toni and Kevin, and Sarah McConnell, whose son Archie received care on the unit before sadly passing away in 2013. She continues to remember him with charity, Archie’s Angels.”

The unit would also like to say a special thank you to the following people who contributed to the donation: Give Back Peterborough, Junction 17, Kelly Butcher, Lauren Smith, Zoe Hagger, Archie’s Angels, Aarti Patel, Karina Duerden, Chernade Head, Rebecca Pearson, Michelle Sutton, Emma Read, Vicky Cox, Livvy Christeson, Annabell Pitcher, Andrew and Ben Feighery.