A MUM has helped raise £4,600 for the neonatal unit which helped save the life of her 'miracle' boy.

Natalie Price was supported by staff at Wirral Women and Children's Hospital the unit four years ago when, at 28 weeks pregnant, a scan revealed her unborn baby had stopped growing.

Concerned for the health of both mum and baby, doctors made the decision to perform a caesarean nine weeks early and Jude was born weighing just 2lb 13oz.

Natalie said it was thanks to the neonatal unit that she and her husband were able to cope with the initial shock and worry of having a premature baby.

After two months, Natalie and husband Paul were finally able to bring their baby son home.

Jude is now four years old and started school last week.

Natalie, manager of the Birkenhead branch of Hays Travel wanted to do something by way of a personal thank you to staff at Wirral Women Children's Hospital.

Along with her eight strong team, she joined forces with the travel firm's Bebington store to fundraise for the neonatal unit as part of the company's annual charity challenge.

Their collective fundraising drive included sponsored walks, cake bakes and office ‘pink pyjama’ days.

Recalling her experience in hospital Natalie, who lives with husband Paul in Prenton, said: "The first few days after Jude was born were a blur and it was a bit touch and go but the unit staff were all amazing.

"Jude was just so tiny and at first, we couldn't even hold him – he wasn't much bigger than his little Peter Rabbit bunny.

"Even for 31 weeks, Jude was very small and because of his size, he had a lot of breathing problems as well as a collapsed lung.

"He had to stay on the unit for eight weeks, until he got to what would have been his actual due date and during this time he had to learn how to breathe, swallow and feed.

"I went in every day and would be there for 12 hours at a time, sometimes they had to make me go home – leaving Jude was really hard and I couldn't have done it without the nurses and the team on the unit."

Natalie said she felt extremely proud seeing Jude in his new school uniform; “He is so independent, he just waved and didn't look back. Jude has such a character and is a real comedian - he sees photos of himself in the incubator and says he was like a baby chicken!

"He is still small for his age and has croup which he needs treatment for but other than that he is healthy and a total whirlwind.

"Jude is most definitely my little miracle."

Hays Travel Bebington store manager Sarah Duncan – who along with her team raised £2,000 of the final £4,600 total by completing a 10-mile fun walk dressed as babies - said the success showed just how vital the neonatal unit is.

Mum of two Sarah, 47, who lives in Eastham, said: “My assistant manager's best friend Nicci Rowley also had a baby prematurely at the neonatal unit.

"Little Isabella is now two and has been signed off completely by the hospital but, with Natalie’s experience as well, it really brought it home just how many people rely on this service.

"On our sponsored walk, people were coming up to us to say their child had been helped by the unit. It is just so vital to our area and close to the hearts of so many people.”

Impressed by their fundraising efforts, Hay Travel North West managing director Don Bircham topped up the amounts raised by the Birkenhead and Bebington stores, meaning a grand total of £4,600 was presented to the neonatal unit.

Don said: "All our branches totally embrace the annual Hays Travel fundraising challenge and with such a personal connection to the Wirral Neonatal unit, it was a pleasure to be able to add to the fantastic total raised by the Birkenhead and Bebington teams.”

Victoria Burrows, head of fundraising for Wirral University Teaching Hospital, said the money raised by the Hays Travel team would now make a real difference to the unit.

"We are so grateful to all the staff at Hays Travel Birkenhead and Bebington and company directors for their amazing support.

"Our neonatal unit cares for some of the most vulnerable and fragile babies, whose parents are often going through the most difficult time of their lives.

"This generous donation will make a huge difference not only by contributing to medical equipment but also helping to improve the ward environment to make parents’ neonatal journey that little bit more comfortable."