A Wallasey couple whose twins were born fighting for their lives have backed a fundraising campaign to refurbish the hospital unit that saved them.

Candice Jardine, 29, and Tom Dallinger, 31, had their world turned upside down when their twins Teddy and Sofia were born premature and in need of specialist intensive care.

At 25 weeks into her pregnancy, Candice began to feel pain and at a visit to Arrowe Park Hospital she was told that she was in labour.

The next day Candice gave birth to her twins who were then transferred to the Neonatal Unit at Wirral Women and Children's Hospital.

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Mum Candice said: “We didn’t have an initial ‘meet your baby, bond with your baby’ moment.

"We had to be shown which incubators our babies were in.”

Both babies, who were born weighing under 2lb, fought for their lives while receiving specialist treatment from the 'phenomenal' neonatal staff on the Unit.

After spending more than three and a half months on the Unit at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WUTH), the duo were able to come home.

Speaking about the treatment the twins received, Tom said: “The care and the staff were phenomenal.

"It’s scary enough walking into neonatal care, let alone having your baby or babies in there.

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“I think people should donate because it’s a service that you will never know you need; we didn’t until we were in the situation.

"For them to provide the right level of care and support, they need the right equipment and the right space.”

Now the family are backing WUTH Charity's Tiny Stars appeal to raise £1.5m over the next three years to refurbish and expand the unit to provide a better space for sick babies to be cared for.

Dr Sanjeev Rath, Neonatal Consultant at WUTH said: “We provide intensive care to the most vulnerable babies who are very sick.

"Our aim is to get a unit with adequate space for each baby and their family which will also help with infection control.”

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(Left to right) Sofia being held by mum Candice Jardine and Teddy with dad Tom Dallinger

The Neonatal Unit cares for poorly babies in need of specialist care and is one of just two Level 3 (highest level) intensive care units in Merseyside and Cheshire.

Victoria Burrows, head of Fundraising said: “By providing an extensive refurbishment to the Neonatal Unit, we know we can enhance the already amazing care that’s given to patients and their families.

"We need as much support as possible to make the appeal a success. We’d ask anyone who is interested in helping to please get in touch”.

For more information about WUTH Charity and the Tiny Stars appeal, visit wuthcharity.org/video, email wuth.charity@nhs.net or call into the Charity Office at the main entrance of Arrowe Park Hospital.