Mum’s running to thank special unit

8:49am Thursday 15th May 2008

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WHEN Jane Harvey's new-born baby needed help, staff at the Royal Gwent Hospital's special care baby unit were there.

Now, she is aiming to five something back to the unit which helped her son Ted. This Sunday, she will be running a marathon in the Lake District to raise funds to help others like her youngster.

Mrs Harvey, 33, will take on 26.2 miles - some of which is in mountainous terrain - during the Brathay Windermere marathon to say "thank you" to staff who cared for Ted whilst he suffered from a dangerous post-birth infection last July.

"I wanted to do something and take up a challenge to raise money for the unit," Mrs Harvey said.

Although weighing a healthy 7.2lbs, Ted was born eight days prematurely and was suffering a mystery infection. To this day, doctors still don't know its cause.

Ted spent 36 hours in the high dependency unit before moving to special care. It was three hours after the birth before Mrs Harvey was allowed to see her son as she suffered the same infection.

Ted was kept in the special care baby unit for eight days whilst he underwent a strong course of antibiotics - giving his mother an anxious wait.

"It was one of the worst moments of my life," she said.

"It's something as a mother you just can't prepare for - having your baby born into special care."

Mrs Harvey, who works as a primary school teacher in Cardiff, said she wanted to thank everyone at the Royal Gwent.

The run in the Lake District will be Mrs Harvey's first ever marathon. Taking a route around Windermere, Britain's largest lake and the nearby villages.

Mrs Harvey, says she's enjoyed the support of her husband Jon, who looks after Ted when she's out training.

She wants to raise £1,000.

Any one wishing to sponsor Mrs Harvey can do so online at www.sponsor-me.org/runningforscbu