In a heartwarming gesture for families with babies receiving care in hospital Norfolk Blood Bikes delivered surprise Christmas stockings to the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) just after the clock struck midnight marking the beginning of Christmas Day.
The gifts, thoughtfully curated for the babies and their families, brought some much-needed holiday magic to the most vulnerable of patients for their first Christmas.
Currently, up to 60 newborns are receiving care across Norfolk’s three acute hospitals – The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (The QEH), Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals (NNUH), and James Paget University Hospitals (JPUH) – fighting a range of conditions that require intensive care. These little warriors and their families face unimaginable challenges, making Christmas particularly difficult.
Norfolk Blood Bikes, renowned for its volunteer-driven delivery service of blood, medical supplies, and donor breast milk across the county, extended their commitment this year to provide these families with a small but meaningful token of support. Alongside their critical services, Norfolk Blood Bikes has played a vital role in delivering essential human breast milk to NICUs throughout the region, often referred to as “liquid gold” for babies in need of nourishment.
This year, with the help of generous donations, Norfolk Blood Bikes raised £2,020 to fund 60 gift packs, each carefully assembled and delivered to NICUs across the county. The contents of each gift pack included:
- A handmade hessian stocking
- Muslin cloths
- Items of clothing for when babies leave NICU
- A story/picture book
- A plush soft toy
- A voucher for families to buy coffee and take a moment of respite
- A beautiful sheepskin for each little warrior (or blanket for those whose beliefs may prevent them from receiving a sheepskin)
Laurance Chapman, the orchestrator behind this campaign, said: “It’s an honour to give back to the families whose little ones are fighting every day. The strength and resilience of these babies and their families inspire us all, and we hope these small gifts bring some comfort and joy during a difficult Christmas.”
The QEH received 12 gift packs – one for each of their NICU cots – bringing a ray of hope and warmth to the families during what can be a challenging and emotional time.
Kieran Copeland, E-Rostering System Administrator at the Trust, helped deliver the gifts on Christmas Eve and commented: “It was an incredibly moving experience to bring these gifts to the NICU. I know how important these small gestures can be for families, especially during their first Christmas in the NICU. The staff and families were deeply touched by the support.”
Esther Dorken, Head of Midwifery at The QEH, expressed her gratitude: “We are truly grateful for the thoughtful and generous gift from Norfolk Blood Bikes. It’s not just the babies who benefit from these gifts, but also the families who are enduring an emotionally challenging time. These tokens of kindness help make their journey just a little bit brighter.” Through this initiative, Norfolk Blood Bikes has proven once again that they are more than just a service delivering critical medical supplies – they are a vital part of the community, providing comfort and compassion where it’s needed most.
For more information on Norfolk Blood Bikes and their ongoing work, visit the Norfolk Blood Bikes website at https://www.norfolkbloodbikes.org.uk/.
ENDS
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