Grateful gran’s grand designs

Gillian Cronan in the garden with her grandson Bradley Cronan and the Rev John Hall

Grandmother Gillian Cronan said a big thank you to the hospital which cared for her premature grandson — by transforming parents’ rooms and overhauling a garden.

Bradley Cronan was born at the Royal Oldham Hospital on September 12, 2009, 13 weeks premature.

“He was so tiny he could fit in the palm of your hand and his parents, my son Andrew and Sarah, spent day and night at the hospital until Bradley came home three months later,” said Gillian.

“I felt the care and the wards and the equipment for the babies was absolutely spot on, but there wasn’t an awful lot for mums and dads and grandparents,” she said.

So Gillian (53), of Brookhill Close, Diggle, began a crusade to say thanks and harnessed the skills and generosity of her colleagues at Carillion and some of the company’s main suppliers to help her.

Bradley weighed only 1lb 14oz when he was born, and Gillian said: “I feel staff in the neo-natal unit gave Bradley life, he was born so early, and without them I wouldn’t have my grandson here. I really wanted to do something to thank them.”

Gillian replaced a single bed with two new beds and turned the stark surroundings into a more homely room with pictures, cushions, decoration and furniture.

She bought two new sofas and new appliances for the parents’ rest room and kitchen area, then gathered a group of workers to transform the chapel garden.

Wintery weather forced work on the finishing rouches to stop: volunteers are waiting until spring to complete the garden work.

“We cadged pots and flowers and soil and stone and had a super two days working in the garden,” laughed Gillian. “I got so much support from our suppliers. When I asked them for help I found so many had been affected by premature babies and deaths, and they all put their hands up and said they would help.”

The Rev John Hall, the hospital’s chaplaincy co-ordinator, said: “When we were first approached I thought they were only going to smarten a corner of the gardens. They ended up giving the whole area an impressive makeover.

“It is important to have a space where people can come to remember loved ones who have died; the chapel garden is used for that. To have an additional identifiable area for people to use, who have suffered the loss of a baby, at any stage, will be a great addition and allow time for quiet reflection, while dealing with that sense of loss.”