‘Mel has been a fantastic nurse for our premature daughter’ - mum nominates Rosie Hospital star for our Public Choice Award
When Winnie was born prematurely at just 27 weeks and three days, weighing less than half a bag of sugar, she needed special care at the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge.
She had chronic lung disease and metabolic bone disease - complications that can affect preterm babies - and spent 172 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Mum KeAnne Holroyd explained: “Winnie always struggled to come off the ventilator.
“We found out she had a large PDA (hole in the heart). We were referred to Great Ormond Street for this to be closed, but luckily it decided to close on its own.”
Then at Christmas 2022, NICU nurse Mel Collett realised that Winne had become very unwell.
She was suffering from Klebsiella sepsis, which put her at great risk.
“She slowly became worse and needed more support with her breathing,” continued KeAnne.
“Winnie was ventilated later on Christmas Day, which made her need chest compressions. Her heart didn't stop but dropped extremely low.
“Over the next few weeks, Winnie was still fighting the Klebsiella. She used 100 per cent oxygen on the ventilator and wasn't saturating over 82 per cent.
“We were told several times that she may not survive. Winnie became very puffy and was storing all fluids and due to this she had fluid drained from her belly button.”
In the midst of this fight, Winnie was prepared for surgery, due to a concern about necrotising enterocolitis - a serious illness in which tissues in the intestine become inflamed and start to die. It can lead to a perforation developing, which allows the contents of the intestine to leak into the abdomen.
“We were told again that she may not survive, but yet again Winnie proved them wrong during surgery, which she handled well.
“They created a stoma but luckily removed none of her gut. This was a lot to take in but the fact we still had our daughter was amazing!” said KeAnne.
“Again, Winnie struggled to come off the ventilator, but we then realised her large PDA had reopened and she had high heart pressures.
“We were yet again referred for closure at Great Ormond Street, but it has got smaller again and hopefully won't need to be closed, even though it's still slightly open.”
Winnie is still in NICU, but has now been transferred to Ipswich Hospital, closer to KeAnne’s home.
The mum shared her story with us to nominate Mel for our Public Choice Award, which we are running in partnership with Cambridge University Hospitals.
It gives an opportunity for patients, families and friends to say thank you for the care and dedication provided by staff at Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, and is the one award open for public nomination at the CUH Annual Awards.
Entry is open at cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/health/ - simply fill in the form to tell us your story. You can stay anonymous if you prefer, and you can also send a message that will passed on directly to the individual or team you nominate.
KeAnne said: “Winnie has had a very bumpy journey but Mel has supported us throughout. We are still currently on the NICU journey, but Winnie is making great progress.”
In her nomination, she described Mel as a “very good, caring nurse” and told us: “My NICU experience wouldn’t have been the same without Mel. Through the hard times Mel would always come in and check on us. She made our NICU experience easier because we knew we could have a laugh, but she would always take the best care for our daughter.
“Even in the tough moments, Mel stayed calm and reassured us. She’s a fantastic nurse and deserves to be recognised.”
CUH is planning celebratory events for all staff nominated to this award, and the other internal awards, in July. A special awards ceremony for the finalists will then be held in September in Cambridge.
Nominate now at cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/health/.
