'Thanks for our little miracle' - couple raise funds to repay those who helped ensure premature baby Rúben survived

But they are determined to do all they can to raise funds for the medical teams and fundraisers who all played their part in caring for their ‘little miracle’ after his traumatic start to life.

The family are set to celebrate Rúben’s first birthday on January 16, but they know that but for the care they received at Boston Pilgrim Hospital and then the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Kings Mill in Mansfield, the outcome could have been very different.

And Catia has also spoken of their gratitude to SOS Pilgrim- Call To Action’ for continuing to fight for maternity and children’s services in Boston.

“We don’t know what we would have done if we didn’t have our services here,” she said.

Catia, a registered nurse, and forklift driver Richard have now raised more than £3,200 in funds to show their gratitude, including £1,200 from Rúben’s Charity Ball which was held at the Poachers Hotel in Boston last month.

The Boston couple, who are both 28, have spoken of their gratitude to everyone who helped with fundraising.

Richard and Catia were over the moon when they found out she was pregnant in July last year, but she had a difficult first few months of pregnancy. Things started to improve, but on January 15 this year she didn’t feel right, so finished her shift early.

“I was 30 weeks and three days pregnant so I didn’t think much of it as I still had three months left. Well, I thought I did.

“It was midnight and I still didn’t feel right. I had some twinges so I decided to give the labour ward at Pilgrim a quick call. They told me to go in to be assessed.

“The midwife and doctor examined me and told us that the unexpected was happening. We needed to prepare ourselves because our baby would be here within 24 hours. I was in labour!

“And so, on 16th January at 04:50am, little Rúben made a quick appearance weighing just 3lbs 7oz. We heard a big cry but then a daunting silence. Rúben went into respiratory arrest and had to be intubated and ventilated.

“Rúben was stabilised by the Neonatal Unit at Pilgrim and we were able to briefly see him five hours later. He then was transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at King’s Mill Hospital at Mansfield. Here was Rúben’s first home, and where we had our first cuddles.

“We were able to hold our precious baby boy for the first time 33 hours after he was born. He was so tiny and had so many lines and tubes, but he was just perfect.

“Rúben had many ups and downs throughout his 43 days stay in the multiple hospitals where he was cared for. He had such a tough start, but he fought all the way and he made it home.”

Now ten months old, and registered nurse Catia says it has been a difficult 10 months. “Rúben is requiring some physiotherapy at present to encourage his mobility. But otherwise he is a happy and healthy 10 months old little boy now,” she said.

Amongst her many thank-yous, Catia is very grateful to Pilgrim Labour Ward for their quick actions, and for delivering Rúben safely, and to all the nurses and doctors at Kings Mill Hospital.

She also said a big thank you to SOS Pilgrim - Call To Action for the transfer box they were given when they were transferred from Pilgrim, but “mainly for fighting for our maternity and children’s services”.

The money they have raised will be split between SOS Pilgrim – Call To Action, the Emily Harris Foundation, CenTre Neonatal Transport, and Pilgrim Neonatal Unit.

Catia said: “We felt it was important to do this charity ball to give back to all the charities/ unit that helped us when we needed the most. We would like to take this opportunity to thank SoS Pilgrim- Call to Action, Emily Harris Foundation, CenTre Neonatal Transport services, and Pilgrim Neonatal Unit for all the support, compassion and excellent care provided by all.

“We’ve met several other parents of premature babies along the way and without our maternity and children’s services our babies would not be here. This is why it was so important for us to do this charity ball because the money that we have raised will help to fight for our services and help other parents and premature babies in similar situations.

“The charity ball was also a way to celebrate our Preemie’s journey, raise awareness to premature birth and show the impact it has on families.”

The total raised by the couple now stands at £3,210.

Catia and Richard also gave a personal shout out and a thank you to people who helped with the ball, inluding Rosalyn Early for donating the wine, making beautiful hampers and flower arrangements, Sarah & Andrew for doing the heads and tales game and donating the prize, Alex Skinner for 'putting up with my moaning', Janice for the initial letters, Emily Early, Richard Fogg, Nigel and Liam Bent for helping out on the night, Lisa Ashton for sorting the venue, Lyle for his and his team at the Poachers, Juliana & Adrian for doing a skydive and raising an enormous amount of money, and Catia's parents Jose and Maria for looking after lil Rúben while we were sorting this out.

"If it wasn’t for them all, Rúben’s Charity Ball wouldn’t been possible."

Catia also wanted to thank businesses who donated prizes, including

Olive & Weston

The Poachers

Dawson’s Butchers

Tesco’s (Boston Branch)

Boston United

Kinema in the woods

Savoy cinema Boston

Maudes

First Rate Flat Roofing

Playtowers

Boston Bowl

Hoppers

Nottingham Co-op

Kirton flower shop

Oldrids

Aesthetics by Megan

Coneys

Waterstones

Boston Sausage

Lincolnshire Co-op

Carpets-2-U

Scent Boston

Bateman Brewery

BMW/ Mini Boston Listers

Sarah’s Bushel Boxes

Johnson’s Garden Centre

Acorn’s taxi

Cash generator Boston

Albert Bartlett

Los Burritos

Lakings of Louth

Cheryl Damms

April Hewis

James & Sandra Pearson