Our Mam’s Team is made up of Mams who have all been through the Neonatal journey on Ward 35, and who volunteer their time to support Mams who are currently on the Ward.
They have a WhatsApp group titled ‘Mams Chat’ where you can chat with our peer supporters and other Ward 35 Mams. Scan the QR code to join.
If you’re interested in becoming a Peer Support Volunteer for the Mams Team, you can register your interest here.
Hi, I’m Carly, I had my little boy Harry, at 30 weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic in November 2020. We spent 7 weeks on the unit before coming home. During the pandemic support on the ward was limited. Once we came home and restrictions started lifting the support from Tiny Lives was amazing and knowing now this support that should have been available during my time on the ward hit hard. When I saw the position of peer support volunteer available it was a no brainier, I vowed to make sure no one else would feel like I had during their time on ward 35. I’m always here for a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen.
I’m Nicola, mammy to Ivy-Rose born at 30+2 weighing 783g. We spent time across both Sunderland and the RVI NICU’s. Navigating NICU is hard, but we’re here to support you through your time in hospital and beyond. I wanted to become a peer supporter to help families currently on the rollercoaster that is NICU, being a listening ear, a cheerleader, and a glimmer of hope. It’s important to speak to people who know what you’re going through, we’re ready when you are.
Hello, my name is Katy and I am mum to wonderful and wild twins Danny and Jude. Born at the RVI in March 2021, at 1 pound 7 and 2 pound 5, we spent 3 months across both the Newcastle and Sunderland NICU’s. It was not how we imagined our journey into parenthood or a world we knew anything about. We were part of the covid generation, but I aways knew when the time was right I would become a peer support volunteer, as being part of a team talking and supporting other parents through this felt natural. Tiny Lives are a wonderful organisation who go a long way in supporting you and I hope I can too!
Hello I’m Angela and my youngest son Joshua and our family spent a few weeks in SCBU before being transferred to ward 2 following respiratory issues. He was placed a tracheostomy at 3 months old and a feeding tube and is now age 6 still undiagnosed and fed via a mic-key button but thriving, he is in a good place health wise and stable so I would love to give back my support and knowledge of moving into a ward that you’ve never been a part of and a world you never knew existed and make things a little easier.
My granddaughter was on the unit in 2019 after being born at 26 weeks. Holding it together as a grandparent was tricky. It’s a unique situation, you see your baby going through this trauma and are scared for them, you are also so scared for their baby, your grandchild who you don’t have the chance to pick up and love in the way you had hoped. You try and be positive and say all of the right things – and at the same time you go to bed at night and pray that all of the horrible things going round in your head don’t happen. I would have loved to have the opportunity to speak to someone else who had been through something similar which is why I wanted to become a peer supporter for grandparents. Although I no longer live in the North East so unable to come onto the unit I am available via email Sharon.mamschat@tinylives.org.uk
