A cool £10,000

Reporter: Lucy Kenderdine
Date published: 15 August 2014


A MUM is determined to raise £10,000 to buy specialist baby cooling equipment for the Royal Oldham after seeing first-hand how the technology can save lives.

Stephanie Brown, from Hollinwood, discovered how important the equipment could be after her nephew Cooper Harris, was born with birth asphyxia (when a baby’s brain and other organs do not get enough oxygen before, during or right after birth) and required specialist care in January last year.

Little Cooper stayed in hospital for several days after he was born while Samantha and David, his mother and father, worried about his condition and whether he would recover.

Thankfully, after almost a week on specialist equipment, he began to show signs of improvement and now the family are hoping to raise enough money to fund extra equipment at the hospital for other babies born with similar problems.

Stephanie, who works for Unity Partnership as a revenues and benefits adviser, said: “We, as a family, were lucky.

“Cooper has survived and as it stands we do not think that he has any lasting effects which, given the fact he had pretty much no brain activity and was having fits in those first couple of days, means we are extremely lucky.

“We just want to help ensure that the tools are available to staff on the neonatal unit to help save other babies lives should they need it.

“The doctors and nurses who saved Cooper were fantastic and we cannot thank them enough.”

She added that the fundraising is a team effort and she is supported by her friends and family who are all equally responsible for raising money for the cause.

The 29-year-old has currently raised £6,000 for the Special Care Baby Unit and she is hoping to add to the total with a family fun day spectacular on Sunday.

The event, at the Northgate Pub, Sholver Fold, will feature a variety of entertainment for all ages including a bouncy castle, visits from Disney characters, donkey rides, craft stalls and live music acts.

Anyone who would like to donate to the cause should visit:

www.justgiving.com/Stephanie-Brown9

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