The Rosie Maternity Hospital, Cambridge
After three concurrent miscarriages during which time the nurses in the Daphne Ward at the Cambridge 's Rosie Hospital cared for her, Julie Harradence was diagnosed as diabetic, and treated and monitored closely. In March 2001, she gave birth to her "gorgeous baby girl", Megan Olivia. Two years later, Julie and her husband, Mark, were expecting their second child, and Alex Patrick was born in November 2003. Julie wrote: "He completed my family. I couldn 't be happier and it 's thanks to Dr Hacket, Dr Dinneen, Maggie Hales and her team and everyone else at the Rosie Maternity Hospital in Cambridge for the support, care and attention I received through the last four years." Both Megan and Alex are thriving.
LONDON & SOUTH EAST
Special Baby Care Unit, Pembury Hospital, Kent
After her daughter died following a premature birth, Samantha Leybourne was understandably terrified when her son, Ethan, was born by emergency caesarean at 27 weeks. Samantha wrote: "I am sure it was their love and determination that kept Ethan fighting for his life. With two holes in his heart, they kept him alive when we were sure he would die, and they kept me going when I thought I couldn 't cope."
Today, Ethan has heart problems and suffers loss of sight and hearing. He also has spastic diplegia. But a new friend in the form of a puppy has made a big difference to Ethan 's happiness and health. Samantha says: "They are a small hospital with a huge heart."
MIDLANDS
Neonatal Unit, City Hospital, Birmingham
Susan Gashi gave birth to her son, Harris, at 26 weeks at City Hospital, Birmingham. Harris weighed just 865g. Not only was Harris very small and on a ventilator, he also contracted E-Coli and MRSA. A few weeks later he caught pneumonia and became totally dependent on the ventilator. Susan says, "My husband and myself never gave up hope. I think this was due to the outstanding care and commitment of the whole team at City Hospital."
Harris recovered, and two months after his birth was transferred to George Elliot, the family 's local hospital in Nuneaton, from where he finally went home in time for Christmas, 2002. "Taking a baby home who was oxygen dependant was a daunting prospect, but you learn to cope and we received 100% support," says Susan, whose family "Can never thank the team at City Hospital enough for 'saving our son 's life."
NORTH REGION 1
Liverpool Women 's Hospital
Jon Prayle 's mother, Wendy, wrote: "A nurse is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart, because they have in their care a wondrous little being belonging to you." When Jon was born 15 weeks premature on 24 October 2000, weighing just 1lb 10oz, and with extremely under-developed lungs, the initial prognoses for his survival was only 50/50.
Jon spent the first six months of his life in intensive care before being moved to the High Dependency Room, then to the Nursery, and finally home - 10 months after his birth. Jon is now 4 years old. He still has chronic lung disease but is otherwise perfectly healthy, and is no longer on oxygen. "It was not just the facilities at the Women 's Hospital that saved my son 's life," says Wendy, "It was the expertise, extreme dedication, love and support of the staff."
NORTH REGION 2
Special Baby Care Unit, Furness General Hospital
In August 2001, Emma was 34 weeks pregnant when she was taken into Furness Hospital to be monitored. The midwife and obstetrician told her that her baby 's heart rate was dropping, and she would have to undergo an emergency caesarean. Emma and her husband, Ryan, watched as their baby daughter, Erin, was born and felt completely helpless when Dr Thorburn explained that Erin was very poorly with an extremely low haemoglobin level, high blood acidity and poorly functioning liver and kidneys. Her lungs also needed help. Over the next few days, Erin received five blood transfusions and over the next three weeks, her health steadily improved.
Now, three years old, Erin has no lasting effects of the illnesses she had at birth. Emma says that "People are just amazed at her!" and "Thanks to the doctors and nurses, she was given the chance of survival and thanks to the care and expertise shown over the following weeks, she was given to chance to be 'Our Maternity Unit Miracle."
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. '
SCOTLAND
Balfour Hospital, Kirkwell, Orkney
West of Scotland Neonatal Transport Services
and Aberdeen Maternity Hospital
After the discovery of endometriosis in a hernia operation, Caroline Easton was sure she would never conceive again. She was doubly surprised to discover in 2003 that she was pregnant - and expecting twins! At 34 weeks, Caroline was due to fly to Aberdeen for the delivery of the twins, only to discover that she was about to give birth in Orkney, and needed a caesarean.
Twins had not been born in Orkney for 20 years, and the surgeon had never performed a twin Caesarean section. Jamie and Danny were born six weeks premature, and were flown to Aberdeen Maternity Hospital for observation.
For the delivery of the babies to Aberdeen, the West of Scotland Neonatal Transport Service enlisted the help of the MOD to arrange for the twins to be moved together, using two teams and two incubators in an Royal Navy Sea King helicopter - a dramatic mission involving the skill and expertise of many people. Today, Jamie and Danny are well, and recognised by many in Kirkwell.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Royal and Jubilee Hospital, Belfast
Bernice Jordan 's baby was due on 5 February 2004, but she suffered high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia in November 2003 and was admitted into Royal and Jubilee Hospital. Alicia-Leigh Jordan was born on 25 November, nearly three months premature and weighing just 2.5 lbs.
Bernice was also told that Alicia had Downs Syndrome. "I never got to see her for the first 4-5 days," said Bernice, "But they sent me photos and information."
After spending 10 weeks in hospital, Alicia came home, and now, just 16 months later, she is doing very well. Bernice said of the neonatal team: "She was well looked after and in good hands ...you were like part of the family."
WALES
Neonatal Unit, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff
Halfway through her pregnancy, Marissa Woods was experiencing major problems. She was admitted to University Hospital at 22 weeks pregnant where her daughter, Georgina was born - on the toilet!
Weighing little more than a pound, the prognosis was not hopeful. "The next few weeks were touch and go," says Marissa. Hospital staff treated a hole in Georgina 's heart and gave her laser treatment on her eyes. After four months, Georgina went home on oxygen. She 's now a healthy five year-old, and has been discharged from every clinic.
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