Mum Michelle Foreman sets up group ICU Baby Steps
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by Nisha Chopra
A woman given no help after her baby
left intensive care has set up her own support group.
Michelle Foreman's six-week-old
daughter was incubated and on life support due to a
condition that causes a blockage in the nose.
After battling for life in Evelina
Children's hospital, based at Guy’s and St Thomas’ in London, baby
Kyeira was discharged.
But for 35-year-old Michelle, of
Wellington Road, in Westgate-on-Sea, near Margate, it was a
daunting task to look after her daughter without any medical
assistants on hand.
She said: "You don't know how to start
feeding them again, their sleep routines - it's overwhelming."
"There is no aftercare until you have
a follow-up appointment and some patients can wait six weeks or
more and I was sent home and taken away from all medical expertise
and left to look after my child who’s suffered a life-threatening
illness.
"So you suffer a lot of anxiety and
worry.
"Emotionally I wasn't dealing with it
well, so I decided to set up this support group and Evelina
hospital very quickly signed me a paediatric intensive care nurse
to help me.
"A year on we're getting parents
contacting us wishing to join."
Michelle hopes her support group
called ICU Baby Steps will give parents a chance to share their
experiences in a friendly environment, with hopes of arranging an
annual day trip.
She added: "You get over it quicker if
you talk about what you’ve been through - it's placed in your brain
rather than being in the forefront."
Michelle's single-handed advertising
has led to groups being set up in five hospitals in Kent, but she
is optimistic she will get them in every hospital around the
country.
She said: "The hope is for every
children’s ward in the country to have my posters - the need for
these groups is national."
The first big fundraiser for the group
is being held at Hartsdown Leisure Centre on April 29 – and it is a
four-hour Zumbathon.
Mum Gemma Gurdler, 29, from Margate is
taking part despite her child never being in an ICU.
She said: "Michelle asked me to help
out and having a small child - this care is something I may need in
the future."
For more details on ICU Babysteps,
visit www.icubabysteps.org or phone
01843 831581.
Monday, January 09 2012
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