Leanne and Ryan, whose daughter passed away 30 days after her birth, have gathered substantial funds to assist other premature infants.
Their aim is to supply numerous small cloth comforters, known as Miniboos, to premature babies receiving care at Nottingham’s two hospitals.
These comforters, which were of immense support to them and their baby Rosie, are crafted to provide solace and allow premature babies to familiarize themselves with their parents‘ scent even while in an incubator.
Leanne, residing in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, expressed that one of Rosie’s comforters continues to provide solace to them post her demise.
Describing the birth of Rosie as a “miracle,” Leanne and Ryan had been trying to conceive for a decade, making Rosie’s arrival even more significant, especially since Ryan’s parents had passed away shortly before, within six weeks of each other.
Rosie, born at 24 weeks on February 15, weighed a mere 1lb 7oz (652g). Despite being born at King’s Mill Hospital in Nottinghamshire, Rosie’s condition necessitated her transfer to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Nottingham City Hospital.
Despite facing numerous medical challenges, Rosie’s resilience was commendable. However, she succumbed to renal failure on March 16.
For Leanne and Ryan, Rosie’s birth held profound significance. They are determined to honor her memory and have set a target of £10,000 to purchase 500 Miniboo packs, sufficient for all babies in Nottingham’s two NICU units for a year.
Although they acknowledge their target as “ambitious,” they have already secured over half of the required amount through various fundraising efforts.
The couple emphasized the emotional comfort derived from Miniboos, not just for themselves but also for other parents facing similar challenges in the NICU.
Apart from providing solace to infants, Miniboos were also instrumental in supporting the wires keeping Rosie alive, preventing them from causing discomfort.
Funds have been raised through online and offline donations, with additional support from Ryan’s brother, who is undertaking a Couch to 5K run to raise funds.
Furthermore, a charity ice hockey match is scheduled to be held at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham on May 26, with proceeds from player fees, a cake sale, and a raffle contributing to the cause. The event is open to all and commences at 19:00 BST.
