Mum inspires Linemark UK colleagues to raise £1,600 for neonatal unit (NICU) that cared for her premature daughter

A Burnley mum has inspired her colleagues to come together and raise almost £1,600 for the neonatal (NICU) team who cared for her daughter after she was born unexpectedly at just 26 weeks.

Melanie Hawkrigg’s daughter Jasmine weighed around 900 grams when she was born in November 2023. After doctors discovered she had a perforated bowel, Jasmine was transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Saint Mary’s Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery on the day she arrived.

She went on to spend four months receiving specialist care, including breathing support and a second operation to reverse her stoma.

The experience left a lasting impression on Melanie, who wanted to find a way to give something back to the team who supported her family through the most difficult months of Jasmine’s life.

Last month, Melanie and her colleagues at Linemark UK took part in a workplace wellbeing challenge, with the team aiming to run 4km a day to support the unit that cared for Jasmine. Together, the team completed more than 1,100km (682 miles), far exceeding their daily 4km target. The team originally set a fundraising target of £500 but has now raised just under £1,600 for Manchester Foundation Trust Charity.

Melanie said: “I didn’t know what a NICU was until I was in that position. You don’t really understand what it means or what happens there until you’re suddenly living it.

“I couldn’t believe I had a baby. She was so tiny and everything happened so quickly. One minute I was in premature labour and the next she was being transferred for emergency surgery. It was completely surreal.

“I couldn’t hold Jasmine until she was 28 days old. I hadn’t felt her kick, and I hadn’t had a bump, so becoming a mum felt very different to how I had imagined it.

“When you’re in the middle of it, you don’t see an end. It puts such a huge strain on your whole life, and you’re trying to be a mum while watching your baby fight for her life. The staff were incredible during that time and kept us informed on Jasmine’s condition throughout.”

During Jasmine’s time in hospital, Melanie was offered counselling which helped her to process the experience. She said: “One thing that really helped me was being offered counselling by the hospital. It wasn’t just about Jasmine – I was going through a huge amount too.

“There’s so much happening that you don’t always stop and think about yourself. Having someone to talk to and being able to take a step back and let those feelings out made a real difference.”

After four months in hospital, Jasmine was finally able to go home with her family. At five months old, she weighed just over three pounds and continued to need specialist milk and regular hospital appointments.

For Melanie, taking her daughter home was a huge milestone, but also a daunting one after becoming accustomed to the constant support of the hospital team.

She said: “Leaving hospital was amazing, but it was also really scary. I’d become so used to Jasmine having 24-hour care, and then suddenly I was taking this tiny baby home and I didn’t have all of that support around me.

“But she just thrived. When you look back now and realise how far she has come, it’s incredible.”

Jasmine has continued to make remarkable progress. She has now been discharged from the surgical and paediatric teams and is enjoying nursery.

For Melanie, seeing her daughter thrive has made her want to give something back to the Unit that supported her family through those first difficult months.

“I’ve always done fundraising for the Ronald McDonald House at the hospital because of how much it meant to us, but I really wanted to give something back to the hospital too. It’s something that’s very close to my heart.

“Having an operation at such a tiny weight felt impossible for Jasmine, but the team made the impossible happen. They gave her the very best chance in life, and I’ll always be grateful for that.”

Melanie’s colleagues at Linemark UK were keen to support her, turning the fundraiser into a team effort. “Everyone wanted to get involved, and it’s been really special to see people come together for something that means so much to me and my family.”

The challenge has also been a personal reminder of the strength her daughter showed during her time in hospital: “It was a real challenge, but I was determined to do it. Whenever it got difficult, I thought about everything Jasmine had been through.

“If she could get through everything she did, then I could keep pushing too.”

Michelle White, Corporate Partnerships Manager at Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, which raises funds for Saint Mary’s, said: “It’s wonderful to see Melanie and her colleagues at Linemark UK come together to support the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and raise such a fantastic amount.

“We’re so pleased that, after everything Jasmine and her family went through, Melanie wanted to give something back and that her colleagues have rallied around her to help make such a difference.

“Every donation helps us go above and beyond what the NHS can provide, from specialist equipment to creating a more welcoming environment for the babies and families cared for in our hospital.

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to Melanie and everyone at Linemark UK for their generosity. Their support really will make a difference.”

If Melanie’s story has inspired you, there are lots of ways to get involved. Whether you take on a challenge of your own or get your workplace involved, find out how you can support our family of NHS Manchester hospitals below.