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Family are ‘so grateful’ for all support they have received from children’s hospice
MATTHEW PANTER
matthew.panter@mnamedia.co.uk
A family has spoken of the incredible support they received from Hope House Children’s Hospice as they coped with the awful news that their daughter had been born with a life-threatening condition.
Georgie and Ben Bridgwater, from Newport, have shared the story of their 16-month-old daughter Freya in order to help raise money for the hospice’s Christmas campaign, which launches this week. The pair faced every parent’s nightmare when Freya was born. Everything had been fine during Georgie’s pregnancy. But when Freya was born a week after her due date, weighing 9lbs 2oz, it was clear something was badly wrong. “She showed no signs of life at first but they managed to get her heart started, which was a huge relief,” recalls Georgie. “Within hours after birth she was taken away by ambulance to another hospital to receive treatment for severe Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy (HIE) due to her brain not receiving enough oxygen. “For 72 hours they treated her with therapeutic cooling to keep her body temperature low and give her brain the best chance. We just sat down beside her and prepared for the fact that we might never bring her home.” Freya was moved out of intensive care and on to the neonatal ward, where she was monitored and tube-
Georgie and Ben Bridgwater, from Newport, with 16-month-old Freya and her older sister Ella fed. “They did an MRI scan and the neurologist said that the area of Freya’s brain that was damaged was consistent with HIE and Cerebral Palsy, and her condition was likely to limit her quality of life and be life-shortening,” recalls Ben. It was at this time the family met Sian, Hope House and Ty Gobaith’s neonatal link nurse, who works closely with local neonatal and midwifery units to support families whose babies are diagnosed with
life-threatening conditions before or after birth. “The staff on the unit said Sian would like to have a chat with us. I was a bit worried that children’s hospices would be all about end of life care but I said yes,” says Georgie. “But Sian was one of the first people that really understood our situation and took the time to learn about us. She told us about everything that Hope House could
help with such as respite care and symptom management for Freya, sibling support for Freya’s older sister Ella, and counselling too.” Ben says the family is so grateful to the team for their support in helping to turn Freya from the baby she was on their first visit into the happy little girl she is today. You can support Freya’s Christmas Appeal by making a donation or buying raffle tickets at www. hopehouse.org.uk/freyas-story.
Drivers have been warned not to ignore a road closure, with one councillor saying his email inbox has been filled with complaints of people disobeying the rules. Newport councillor Peter Scott has urged motorists using Chetwynd End to follow the rules or risk a potential accident and police action. Chetwynd End is temporarily closed one way, while bridge works are carried out. It has led to a restriction of traffic travelling northbound along the road from its junction with Water Lane to Green Lane. The works are expected to be completed by November 23 but some frustrated motorists have, Mr Scott says, been ignoring signs and driving through the road closure. “There’s no excuse for driving through,” he said. “Not only are there signs saying ‘road closed’ but also CCTV is in operation. “For the duration of the canal bridge repair you simply cannot and should not go north over the bridge. It is one way, south only. “My inbox has been filled with complaints from residents reporting people are going the wrong way and not obeying the closure. “I’d warn drivers there’s a camera which shows the full road closure so the council can see who is going the wrong way and the camera can read the registration numbers.”
Expect fireworks at rugby club’s event
Newport Rugby Club is staging its bonfire and fireworks display tomorrow night (Friday). The bonfire will be lit at 7pm with fireworks getting under way at 7.45pm. Entry is £25 per car – for up to five people. Limited parking is available and no cars will be allowed access without an advance ticket. Pedestrian gate tickets are £5 per person and no pre-purchased ticket is required for walk-ins. To book tickets, visit ticket source.co.uk/booking/t-yazaqml
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FREYA IS FACE OF FESTIVE APPEAL
Drivers are warned to stop ignoring road closure signs
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Thursday, November 3, 2022
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