Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust’s charity ‘dreamdrops’ has received a donation enabling them to officially open the new parent’s room at the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) based at Hinchingbrooke Hospital.

The new parent’s room and two new toilets that have recently been built onto the Unit, were formally opened by the Guests of Honour, Meera Wiggett and her daughter, Maia, who spent time on the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) after being born six weeks prematurely, weighing just 3lb 1oz.

The money for the new mother’s room was raised at a Fun Day at Loves Farm in St Neots and enabled the charity to purchase a new bed, bedclothes, duvet, pillows, standard light and a lovely canvas picture for the room. In addition, Colin Dunn, a close family friend persuaded the company he works for, Ernst and Young, to ‘match-fund’ some of the money raised, which has enabled the purchase of a TV with a DVD for the room.

Anne-Marie Hamilton, ‘dreamdrops’ Chairman said: “To have the new mother’s room and also the ‘Loo for SCBU’ has long been the dream of the staff and many of the patients who have used SCBU over the years. It is a real privilege to see the dream finally come true, thanks to Meera, her family and friends, the Board of Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust and the many generous, local people who have donated to ‘dreamdrops’ since the charity was first established. It is a truly wonderful achievement.”

Maia was diagnosed with holes in her heart and spent six weeks in SCBU before being transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) for interim heart surgery, when the family received more unexpected news. They found Maia was having difficulty breathing and she was diagnosed with long segment tracheal stenosis (narrowing of the trachea, which provides air to and from the lungs) and this had to take priority over her heart surgery.

At just two months old, surgeons performed a slide tracheoplasty, a pioneering surgery technique that shortens the trachea but makes it wider and stronger. The technique was developed at GOSH to widen a child’s airways so they can breathe. Maia’s surgery was a success and after six weeks recovering in GOSH, Maia was transferred to Hinchingbrooke Hospital, until she was strong enough to go home with her family.

A few months after her trachea operation, Maia returned to GOSH for more surgery to repair the holes in her heart. After day 5, Maia was determined to make a full recovery, and 2 weeks after the operations, Maia was soon well enough to go home again.

Meera said: “Maia’s time on the Special Care Baby Unit was invaluable. Both the doctors and nurses provided Maia with the care she needed so she was strong enough to go through the major surgery that was required to save her life.

“SCBU have been there for us as a family. Not just for Maia, but for us as parents, and we can’t thank them enough. We held a Family Fun Day in St Neots to raise money for the Unit, and we are delighted and honoured to be here today with Maia to open this amazing Parent’s room.

"We hope this helps other families who are also here, and we will continue to support SCBU in the future and support them in the fantastic work they do. Maia is making great progress and is now a very talkative 2 year old toddler."

Money raised through ‘dreamdrops’ is used to provide additional items for the Special Care Baby Unit and Children’s Ward, as well as children who are nursed at home. For further information on how you can help raise funds for the charity, please visit www.dreamdropschildrenscharity.org or email dreamdrops.dreamdrops@nhs.net.

Photo 1: 
Sarah Hughes (Matron for Acute Children’s Services)
Tracy James (SCBU Ward Manager)
Joan Pope (SCBU Housekeeper)
Mandie Wiggett with baby Kyan
Meera Wiggett with Maia Wiggett
Anne Marie Hamilton (Chairman for Dreamdrops)
Anne Whiley (SCBU Nursery Nurse)
Charlie Spanton with baby Tommy
Zoe Page with Alfie
Claire Exton with baby Freddie

Photo 2: Meera and Maia cutting the ribbon
Photo 3: Maia during her treatment