Raya Sunshine & all the NICU babies

Hello my name is Louise, I am mummy to Raya who will be turning 2 in April.

Myself & my friend Natalie are running the 10k in Blackpool on the 11th May. This is a huge challenge as we have never run before and currently doing the couch to 5k.

Also Raya’s amazing legal guardian Faith is running the Manchester Marathon on the 11th April.

This is to celebrate Raya’s 2nd Birthday where she will have smashed all of her milestones & will be discharged from her consultant against all the odds.

When Raya was born she wasn’t breathing and required resuscitation, she suffered a Severe HIE (HYPOXIC ISCHAEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY) and resuscitation was continued until she arrived in NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Raya received the most amazing treatment which was therapeutic cooling on a cooling mattress for 72 hours.

I myself suffered a major obestric haemorrhage, resulting in a hysterectomy and was transferred to another hospital to be cared for in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit).

Therapeutic cooling is used for any baby who suffers a HIE at birth. It slows down damage to the babies brain cells to reduce any further damage. These cooling mattresses have helped so many babies and their families to receive unbelievably better outcomes for their future.

After initially telling my husband and myself that Raya may have to live with severe difficulties following initial MRI scans, she is doing incredible and has smashed every milestone.

The consultant is so pleased with her progress and is aiming to discharge her at the age of 2. Without this amazing innovation Raya and ourselves would be leading a very different life.

We want to raise as much money as

possible to give to the local NICU unit (as therapeutic cooling mattresses are not funded by the NHS). This will buy more of these so many more babies and their families can receive the amazing outcomes like our amazing little girl.

Thank you very much for any donations you make to a wonderful cause.

Our Raya Sunshine ☀️ & all of the NICU babies.