Parents of baby organ donor help transform premature care in Leeds
A Yorkshire couple whose newborn baby girl became one of the country's youngest organ donors are now helping to transform the way premature twins are cared for in Leeds.
A Yorkshire couple whose newborn baby girl became one of the country's youngest organ donors are now helping to transform the way premature twins are cared for in Leeds.
Ami and Liam Duggleby lost their daughter, Minnie, at just 23 days old after she was born with a congenital heart defect - but they allowed her kidneys to be used to save the life of a young adult.
"It was quite a hard decision but we brought it up with the doctors because we thought it might be something positive to come out of a horrible situation," Ami says.
"It's just nice to know that she's done something really, really amazing. I still wish she was here but it's definitely helped and igiven us something to think about sometimes - that maybe it wasn't all for nothing."
They've now raised £14,000 to buy equipment for the neonatal unit at the LGI, including a special cot which allows premature twins to be cared for together rather than separately.
Consultant neonatologist Dr Jo Wright told Radio Aire it will help so many families: "We know that twins do better and they have less infections if they're not separated.
"But we don't have any twin cots at all. But with this amazing genorosity, we're actually now, for the first time, able to buy a couple of these cots. And we nearly always have at least one set of twins on the neonatal unit at Leeds.
"We trialled the cots and I can't tell you enough the positive comments from the mother who used them for her baby girls. She found the whole experience was so much easier and less stressful because her babies were together."
The money will also fund special cot canopes to shield babies from the bright lights needed in the neonatal unit, as well as special 'Zaky arms' developed to help babies feel like their parent is cuddling them even when they're not there.
Today, the East Yorkshire couple are heading to Buckingham Palace for the Queen's Garden Party in recognition of all their work to raise awareness of organ donation.