Special Care Nursery - Lyell McEwin Hospital

My name is Charlotte, with the support of my friends and family each year I organise hampers for families that are in the Lyell McEwin hospital over Christmas.

The hampers started out as something that my parents did when they realised that not all families make it home for holidays like Christmas from the special care nursery. The first batch of hampers were put together for Christmas in 2006. My parents had recently had me, their underweight, 4 ½ week prem baby. We had been in the special care nursery for 14 nights and were only just released in time for Easter. The following year my brother Jackson was born 6 weeks prem, weighing 4lb 13oz. He was released a week before Christmas, again reminding my parents how special it was to be home in time for the holidays with their new baby. In 2010 my sister Annabelle was born 4 weeks prem but this time weighing in at 6lb 2oz. As I grew up I saw how much of an impact these hampers were having on families, so I took over from my parents.

In 2020, my brother Finley was born an angel baby on the 9 of May. My Dad, Alli (step mum) and I decided to put together some extra special hampers in his memory. The Finley hampers go to families that are in the Lyell McEwin hospital over Christmas who sadly have to say hello and goodbye to their baby. We hope that the hampers we make with love provide families with a sense of hope, support and knowledge that they are not alone.

This year our goal is to make a total of 8 Charlotte Hampers for mums and bubs in the special care nursery and 4 Finley Hampers for Mums and Dads leaving the hospital with empty arms and broken hearts. If you or someone you know would like to support us this year, you can donate money.

Thank you in advance.