Family fundraisers of young mum and Covid-19 survivor Ellie Wright said a thousand thank yous last week when they handed over two cheques for Walsall Manor Hospital’s Neonatal and Critical Care Units.
The cash was raised by 21-year-old Ellie’s auntie Zoe Rhodes through a special facebook page called Ellie’s Raffle for Walsall Manor Hospital
Zoe said she was amazed at the prizes donated which included designer bags, trainers, make-up, cocktail hamper and mini breaks.
She said: “People were really generous giving us these donations; we had signed footballs from Walsall and West Bromwich Albion, sweet hampers and all sorts of other prizes and managed to raise £1,000. We’ve given £500 to the Neonatal Unit and £500 to the Critical Care Unit.
“The NHS angels in Walsall saved the life of baby Leo and saved the life of Ellie and I really wanted to say thank you to them. It’s because of them we’ve still got them both”
Ellie, of Beechdale, left hospital on 9 April this year following recovery at the Walsall Community Stroke Service at Hollybank House in Willenhall after her spell in hospital.
Her baby Leo was delivered 10 weeks early on 12 January when Ellie was 30 weeks pregnant as his mum needed life-saving treatment after contracting Covid-19. He was cared for in the Neonatal Unit at Walsall Manor Hospital and had to go on a ventilator for 24 hours.
Meanwhile Ellie was fighting for her life and had never even touched her baby until critical care staff and neonatal staff worked together to arrange for his incubator to be brought into the Critical Care Unit in February. Ellie was only able to reach out and touch him as she was still very weak.
Then on 11 March Ellie was able to hold her baby son for the first time
Ellie is continuing to recover at home with mum Michelle Stankevitch, dad Mark and her brother Kai and sister Chloe. Not forgetting the family’s husky dog Luna.
She said: “I am having a lot of pain down my right side so will be having more scans to try and find out what’s going on – it’s really painful and affects my walking.
“But Leo is great. He’s five-and-a-half months old now and weighs 15 pounds. He is a happy baby but you can tell when he doesn’t like something or doesn’t want to do something, he definitely lets you know about it.”
Critical Care Consultant and acting Clinical Director Dr Aditya Kuravi, added: “We are so touched that Ellie’s family wanted to thank critical care in this way. It was lovely to see her again and whilst she’s still got a way to go in her recovery she is doing so well considering how seriously ill she was just a few months ago.”