Percy's Story: A Journey of Resilience and Hope

Hello, I'm Ollie, proud father of Percy, who was born in November 2023 at just 24 weeks and 6 days, weighing a mere 860 grams. The journey that followed was one of resilience, hope, and an incredible fight for life. Percy spent the first 20 weeks of his life in neonatal intensive care, defying the odds stacked against him. Today, he is thriving, and our family stands in awe of his strength and determination.

Early Challenges and a Promise

From the moment our journey began, I made a promise to myself: to raise funds and awareness for the charities that supported us. Among these, Ickle Pickles played a crucial role. While I couldn't control what happened to Percy, I could control how I responded. Planning a charity challenge became a way to cope with the overwhelming stress and to give back to those who helped us.

Wheels of Hope - a unique Charity Challenge

On November 15th and 16th, I will embark on a 24-hour charity challenge. I plan to push a specially adapted buggy with an incubator for 24 hours straight, travelling from Poole Hospital to Southampton Hospital and back to Bournemouth — a total of 106 kilometres. The number 24 represents the weeks at which Percy was born, and the journey symbolises the early path he took in life.

Percy’s Story

A Rocky Start

The road to welcoming our second child was filled with uncertainty. At 18 weeks, my wife experienced severe bleeding, and we were warned of a potential miscarriage. Miraculously, our baby held on, and at 20 weeks, all seemed well. But just a few weeks later, at 24 weeks and 3 days, she experienced bleeding again. The words "this feels different this time" still echo in my mind.

The Birth of Percy

We rushed to Poole Hospital, and soon after, my wife was 8cm dilated. It felt like an unstoppable force had taken over. Despite the bleak statistics for babies born at this gestation, there was a glimmer of hope. After a few harrowing days and a transfer to Southampton's Level 3 neonatal hospital, Percy was born via C-section, surrounded by a team of dedicated healthcare professionals.

The Rollercoaster of NICU

The days following Percy's birth were a blur of life-and-death updates, medical interventions, and emotional turmoil. We faced the "honeymoon period" followed by a swift decline in Percy's condition. The team at the hospital did everything possible to support him, and against all odds, he pulled through. By Christmas, Percy was off the ventilator — a true miracle.

Adjusting to Life at Home

After 140 days in NICU, we finally brought Percy home. The journey was not over, but with oxygen support and ongoing care, Percy continued to thrive. Now, over a year later, he is a cheeky toddler, attending nursery and filling our lives with joy.

Giving Back

This challenge is my way of saying thank you to the Southampton Neonatal Unit and SONeT transport service for their life-saving support. We are forever grateful for the care and compassion they provided during our darkest days.

Get Involved

I invite you to follow our journey on Instagram and support this cause by donating here. Whether through donations, sponsorships, or spreading the word, your involvement will make a difference. Together, we can raise vital funds for neonatal equipment and support families facing similar challenges.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. We hope it inspires you to join us in making a meaningful impact in the neonatal community.

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