Thank you, NICU

Last year, Dan participated in the AJ Bell Great South Run to raise money for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Queen Alexandra Hospital (QA) in Portsmouth, which played a crucial role in saving his daughter’s life.

Dan's daughter was born at QA at just 23 weeks and 6 days old, which is just before she could survive on her own, and she weighed only 488 grams. Before the birth, Dan's wife had experienced serious health issues, and now their daughter faced her first big challenge: gaining enough strength to survive.

What came next was the hardest and most exhausting period for them, both physically and mentally. Dan and his wife moved to Portsmouth, staying in hotels and B&Bs so they could be close to their daughter. After watching her battle many infections and go through several resuscitations, she finally overcame the odds and was able to go home after 138 days of constant care.

Dan admits that he is not a runner and would rather enjoy a drink and watch from a distance, but he felt it was important to give back to all the amazing doctors, nurses, and staff at the QA who helped him and his wife during such a difficult time.