The charity has launched a ‘Prem & Proud’ campaign for Prematurity Awareness Month – which coincides with its birthday – seeking adults, particularly those from older generations, to reflect on their experiences. It aims to create a mini series of short videos sharing these experiences.
Co-founder Jo Priaulx, pictured, said the campaign aimed to hear from islanders who were born before the charity was established.
‘We want to see what people went through when they were born premature, without a local charity,’ she said.
‘For us, it’s learning how care for premature babies has changed.’
Mrs Priaulx established the foundation following the premature births of both her children, Sebastian and Daniella.
Sebastian was born four weeks early in Northampton in 2001, where Mrs Priaulx was initially unable to see him and was instead given a Polaroid photograph to keep beside her hospital bed. The experience inspired her to introduce similar support for mothers in Guernsey.
‘I had to leave Seb in an incubator and drive home, and that 20 miles was awful,’ she said.
‘I wanted to make things easier for families in the future, that’s what I’ve always wanted to do.’
Following Daniella’s island birth in 2003, she organised what was intended to be a one-off fundraiser for an incubator, raising £45,000.
The charity has since grown to provide equipment, accommodation near Southampton hospital, and emotional support for local families with premature and sick babies.
Mrs Priaulx’s daughter now works alongside her, and said she hoped the campaign would reassure others who had shared similar experiences.
‘When you watch a video of someone explaining how they felt going through something that you’ve been through too, and you think, “Oh, it’s not just me”,’ she said.
‘That’s what we want these people to feel like with this campaign, that they’re not alone.’
With one in 10 babies born prematurely, PPBF hopes the campaign will celebrate advances in neonatal care while highlighting the continuing importance of its work. Mrs Priaulx said she remains committed to supporting island families and hoped her children would help continue its work.
‘I feel really lucky,’ she said.
‘I get up in the morning with a smile on my face. Knowing what I’m doing for families keeps me going, and I’d like the legacy to go on.’
‘Support was very different before PPBF’
SUPPORT available to families in Guernsey with premature babies now is very different to what was available before the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation was started.
Before the charity started there was much less support available to local families like Nic Legg’s.
‘Fortunately for me, I don’t remember a lot about it, but obviously my mum and dad have told me and it was a very difficult time for them,’ he said.
‘I was born nine weeks early and I was three pounds, four ounces, I believe, so very small. The day after I was born, I stopped breathing and that led to me developing cerebral palsy, and my parents were told that I might not survive the evening, so for them, that was a very stressful time. After many hours, they were told they could go and see me, and fortunately I survived and I’m still here to tell the tale.’
The Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation is speaking to people who were born prematurely before the charity started about their experiences as part of a new campaign ‘Prem and Proud’.
‘I think back when I was born, nearly 40 years ago, it was very different. My parents probably felt very alone, very scared, very isolated, and looking at what’s available now and the support that the premature baby families have got, it’s absolutely amazing. If you look at the PPBF’s flats in Southampton that’s going to be absolutely incredible for the families knowing that they don’t have to stress about finding accommodation,’ said Mr Legg.
‘I had to have several operations after being born and my mum tells me a story about staying quite far away from the hospital and being a young lady herself and having to walk distances late at night and being absolutely terrified leaving the hospital, along with having all the stress and worry about me and my operations.
‘I think if she was going through that now, she would be in such a better place. Everything that’s available thanks to the generosity of so many people is amazing.’
Mr Legg went on to say how important the charity was to let families know they are not alone.
‘There is that support, and there are many families that have been through the same as they’re going through,’ he said.
‘Thankfully the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation is there to provide practical support, emotional support, and obviously I’ve seen the lovely kind of gifts that families get now as well, so do reach out and get support and see how they can help you.’
Anyone interested in sharing their story for the campaign is encouraged to contact Miss Priaulx at dannii.priaulx@ppbf.org.gg.
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