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Mum's thanks to William Harvey Hospital after 3-month-old daughter finally sent home on Mother's Day

A mum whose premature daughter was finally allowed home on Mother's Day has said she owes "everything" to the hospital staff who cared for her.

Louise Cutting from Deal was just 26 weeks pregnant when she was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital in Thanet on December 20 in labour.

Tiny Nancy, pictured in December, spent 93 days in an incubator
Tiny Nancy, pictured in December, spent 93 days in an incubator
Nancy leaving hospital, pictured with mum Louise, dad Luke, brother Kingsley and sister Luella
Nancy leaving hospital, pictured with mum Louise, dad Luke, brother Kingsley and sister Luella

Her daughter Nancy was born the following day weighing only 1lb and 14oz – less than a bag of sugar – and whisked off into intensive care.

Unable to hold her newborn until she was a week old, the 34-year-old, who is also mum to Kingsley, 10, and two-year-old Luella, was delivered a photograph of the tot to her bedside.

She spent Christmas Day inside the neonatal unit while her other children spent the day in the car park, only eating a roast dinner together at home at 8pm.

After 97 days – 93 of which Nancy spent in an incubator – three blood transfusions and a course of triple strength antibiotics, the family received the news they had all been waiting for on Mother's Day.

In what was a surprise for Ms Cutting, her partner Luke and their children, Nancy was discharged in good health and is settling in well to her new surroundings.

The photograph of Nancy which was brought to Louise's bedside in the minutes after giving birth
The photograph of Nancy which was brought to Louise's bedside in the minutes after giving birth

Now, Ms Cutting wants to extend her gratitude to the professionals who helped her daughter pull through and also provided support and guidance to her family at their most vulnerable time.

She told KentOnline: "I owe them my everything.

"You read a lot of bad press about the trust but I want the staff to know that their role is far bigger than their pay packet.

"They are loving, supportive and empathetic.

"They are not just nurses, they are counsellors and therapists and they became like family."

Nancy's dad Luke holding her for the first time
Nancy's dad Luke holding her for the first time
Louise Cutting cuddles her daughter Nancy who spent over 90 days in hospital
Louise Cutting cuddles her daughter Nancy who spent over 90 days in hospital

Ms Cutting says this is particularly significant for her having become detached from her own family.

"I opened up to them and they opened their hearts to me," she added.

Ms Cutting's previous pregnancies had been straight forward and she had given birth without complication.

But she described her pregnancy with Nancy as being "on edgy ground" from quite early on.

During the pandemic she suffered two miscarriages and feared a third with Nancy when she haemorrhaged at 13 weeks and again at 20 weeks.

Nancy was 1lb and 14oz when she was born and left hospital on Sunday weighing 5lb 1oz
Nancy was 1lb and 14oz when she was born and left hospital on Sunday weighing 5lb 1oz

Despite this trauma, she says she was reassured by medical staff at all times including in the late-night transfer from the QEQM to William Harvey hospital.

She told how one midwife didn't leave her side during the ambulance ride and even had to make her own way back.

She praised another staff member who put pressure on William Harvey to ensure a bed was made available for her, instead of having to be transferred to a London hospital where she would have been away from her other children over Christmas.

On other occasions, she said how staff gave her children presents 'from Nancy' on Christmas Day, and rosettes as awards.

One time when Nancy was more stable, a staff member held her up to a window so her siblings could see her for the first time.

An example of one of the kind messages sent to Louise via an app which allowed her to be updated on Nancy's condition
An example of one of the kind messages sent to Louise via an app which allowed her to be updated on Nancy's condition
Rosettes given to Nancy's siblings in a kind gesture from staff
Rosettes given to Nancy's siblings in a kind gesture from staff

Ms Cutting said: "Being thrown into this situation, where you have to leave one of your children with them every day, is indescribable.

"How could I chose which of my children to spend Christmas Day with?

"But throughout all of this, the staff just make so much difference.

"We celebrated Christmas, New Year, two birthdays and Mother's Day there.

"Not one of those times did they let it go unnoticed.

Until the family arrived home, Nancy had not seen her mum Louise without a mask
Until the family arrived home, Nancy had not seen her mum Louise without a mask

"They go above and beyond.

"They nursed and nurtured me, put up with continuous phone calls and kept us updated on an app multiple times a day.

"These are people who don't even have their tea and coffee provided in the staff room."

Having made the 42-mile round trip to Ashford to see Nancy every day, Ms Cutting described being told she could take her home on Mother's Day as "surreal".

She said: "One of the nurses just said 'You fancy going home today?'

After three months in hospital Louise Cutting from Deal was able to take baby Nancy home on Mother's Day
After three months in hospital Louise Cutting from Deal was able to take baby Nancy home on Mother's Day

"I laughed and said 'I go home every day', and then she said 'No, with Nancy!'

"I didn't know what to say, I just started crying. It was surreal, like all my dreams had come true.

"I can't take my eyes off her. I'm in awe of her and in awe of the team."

Miss Cutting has since written to PG Tips and Tetley to ask for donations of tea bags for the staff.

She is also encouraging anyone who can, to donate to the hospital's East Kent Tiny Toes charity.

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