I want to repay Tinylife for everything – they do amazing work

I want to repay Tinylife for everything – they do amazing work

17 February 2016

A COMBER mum is preparing to jump out of a plane at 20,000 feet to thank the premature baby charity TinyLife.

Zoe Foster gave birth to daughter Ellie-Mae seven weeks early at the Ulster Hospital in September.

Weighing just four pounds, four ounces, Ellie-Mae was luckily spared any major complications but looking back Zoe said she couldn’t have got through the worrying time without the help of TinyLife.

Praising the Carryduff-based charity, she said: “I hadn’t heard of TinyLife before apart from when the neo-natal nurses mentioned to us in the hospital.

“When I contacted the charity I learnt more about them and what they do and I can’t thank them enough for the help and support they gave me.

“They presented me with a premature baby girl gift bag with premature clothing, wee hats, blanket, all things that were incredibly useful as I had clothes bought in but I never thought she was going to be so small.”

Already a mum to 11-year-old Ryan, Zoe said the help of TinyLife family support officer Denise Hall said been a great support to her and husband Phil.

“Denise has been fantastic, anytime we needed advice or help she’s been on the other side of the phone,” she said. “We also did a five-week baby massage course run by TinyLife which was a great help and completely funded by them.

“They also have a sensory room in Carryduff so Ellie-May has been booked in for a four week course up there again funded by Tinylife.”

Zoe said the practical support and relaxation time was appreciated following a difficult pregnancy. Despite the potential complications of Ellie-Mae’s early birth, she said the overwhelming feeling was one of relief that her daughter was safely delivered.

Despite a brief period in the intensive care unit to assist her breathing, and some help in battling jaundice, Ellie-Mae was obviously keen to get home and managed to get discharged in just nine days.

Discussing her skydive planned for the summer, Zoe said she was not normally the adventurous type but had been considering one for quite a while.

“I always wanted to do it it was about getting the charity right,” she said. “I will be doing the skydive from 20,000 feet at Skydive Wild Geese at Garvagh, Coleraine and I will have an instructor with me.

“I just feel I want to repay Tinylife for everything, they do amazing work and I really want to raise lots of money to support the work they do.”

Ellie-Mae, partly named after her late great-granny Mary who she got to meet briefly, is now 12 pounds 12 ounces. She is “tiny and petite” according to mum but doing well.

“Ellie-Mae is a bubbly personality and the last three or four days she has been finding her voice,” said Zoe.

“She is a smiley, happy baby doing well.”

Zoe said her aim was to raise £500 for TinyLife. A JustGiving page has been set up online and can a donation can be made at: https://www.justgiving.com/Zoe-Foster6/