Latest news with #NeonatalIntensiveCareUnit
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Gladiators star Steel and wife trying for another baby after devastating loss
Gladiators star Steel and his wife Samantha are hoping to have another baby after suffering a devastating loss following the death of their son Leo at just 13 days old Gladiator Steel and his wife Samantha hope to have another baby following the death of their son Leo aged just 13 days earlier this year. Steel - real name Zack - and Samantha were devastated when their son passed away after being born at just 23 weeks. The pair already have daughter Ivy, 2, and dream of expanding their family. 'I love Ivy so much I want to give her a friend for life,' says Samantha. 'We've been given the OK to try again when we're ready.' Both Samantha and Zack feel baby Leo is watching over them and will always be part of their family. 'It's been a really short time, but I need to fill that void,' says Samantha. 'We want another baby, another little boy, but we both say, 'Whatever Leo decides to give us.' People say you'll never replace Leo, but I do feel my next baby will be a big part of him.' Zack and Samantha married last year at Harlaxton Manor in Grantham, in front of friends, family and a band of Gladiators. 'We always said we wanted to give Ivy a sibling,' says Samantha. 'We married in September and were pregnant at the end of October. We were so chuffed.' The pregnancy had progressed normally and at the 20-week scan, Samantha and Zack were delighted to discover they were expecting a baby boy. 'It was perfect,' adds Zack. 'We always wanted a boy and a girl.' So they were shocked when two weeks later, Samantha felt something was wrong. At the hospital, doctors told her she was in labour – and talked them through their options. 'They give you a piece of paper that basically tells you the likelihood of your baby surviving, and if they do, the possibilities of issues with their sight, hearing, and other disabilities,' says Zack, who was told just 28 out of 100 babies born as early as Leo grow up. 'They weren't great stats. We could have chosen an abortion,' says Zack. 'But that never would have been an option.' Zack and Samantha had experience of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) as their niece had been born at 24 weeks and, against the odds, she'd thrived. They hoped Leo would have a similar journey and the early signs were promising. 'He had everything going for him,' says Zack. 'He was big, he had a good heart rate.' They decided their baby needed a strong name. 'So he became Leo the Lion because he was strong and he was fighting,' Zack says. At first, Leo seemed to be defying the odds. 'It's such a rocky road,' says Samantha. 'But when your baby comes out alive, you think, 'We're just going to get through this now.'' Sadly, baby Leo began to deteriorate and Zack and Samantha's family came in to say their goodbyes. 'That was really hard, because if it hadn't happened, he would probably still be here,' says Zack. 'A 23-week-old baby has so much to do. Overnight, he got quite bad, that's when we went in and he passed away.' Doctors asked Samantha and Zack if they wanted to try CPR but they couldn't ask Leo to fight any more. 'Imagine that on a baby so tiny?' says Samantha. 'We didn't want to put him through any more pain.' Ivy never met her brother, and Samantha and Zack will wait until she's older to tell her what happened. But she brought comfort in their darkest period. 'Ivy definitely helped,' says Zack. 'She brought us a lot of joy, kept us smiling and was a good distraction. She has helped us more than she'll ever know.' Now Zack and Samantha are launching their charity Leo And Friends, which will raise awareness as well as money for Leicester hospital's NICU department. It starts with a fundraiser called 13 Days Fighting, sponsored by Currys, which will take place across the UK this month. 'I want to try to get something positive out of a really bad situation,' Zack says. 'We want to honour him every year with a different challenge and raise awareness and money for Leicester hospital and its amazing staff.' Zack's first challenge will be a burpee mile – about 800 burpees – every day for each of the 13 days that his son lived. 'Just doing one mile is hard,' says Zack. 'Doing 13 back to back will be extremely tough, but I want that. I'm looking forward to the challenge.' Zack and Samantha are still processing their grief, but they hope to one day have another baby. 'I love Ivy so much I want to give her a friend for life. We've been given the OK to try again when we're ready.' Both Samantha and Zack feel baby Leo is watching over them and will always be part of their family. 'It's been a really short time, but I need to fill that void,' says Samantha. 'We want another baby, another little boy, but we both say, 'Whatever Leo decides to give us.' People say you'll never replace Leo, but I do feel my next baby will be a big part of him.'
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Demand rises, but breast milk donations dip at Trichy GH bank
Trichy: Even as this year shows promising trends in breast milk donations at MGMGH's breast milk bank, doctors at the hospital say there's still a pressing need for more mothers to come forward and donate. As of July, the govt hospital's milk bank had received 192 litres of breast milk from 639 lactating mothers, benefitting 634 neonatal babies undergoing treatment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Though the volume is significant, it still lags behind last year's 288 litres from 727 donors, which helped 776 babies—the highest in five years. Doctors pointed out that the 2024 spike was largely due to a few individuals donating in large quantities. Currently, the hospital's milk bank is supported mainly by two NGOs, along with a few direct contributions. On average, 10–15% of collected milk is discarded during bacterial screening before storage. "Milk secretion varies between mothers, so the quantity of donation can't be the same. But what we need now is more donors. Stigma, misinformation, and lack of awareness are major barriers," said Dr S Padmapriya, paediatrician at MGMGH. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The NICU at MGMGH has around 100 beds, divided into three levels based on the severity of the baby's condition. Most NICU admissions are preterm, underweight, or babies with complications requiring intensive care. In such cases, donated breast milk significantly improves survival chances, especially when mothers are unable to breastfeed due to medical reasons. Each infant in the NICU typically requires 30–40 ml of milk per feed, about 10 times a day. "The neonatal care we provide here is very expensive in private hospitals. We don't just support babies born at MGMGH. Milk is also provided to neonates referred from other centres and sometimes even private hospitals," said Dr Padmapriya. She also noted that breast milk donation can benefit mothers by easing physical discomfort and potentially lowering the risk of certain conditions like breast cancer.
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Tender scam hits Akola women's hospital, dist civil surgeon, two other top officials suspended
Akola: A corruption scandal has rocked the District Women's Hospital in Akola, where serious irregularities have been uncovered in the tender process for recruitment under the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) supported by the National Health Mission (NHM). Following the revelations, three senior health officials — district civil surgeon Dr Tarangtushar Vare, hospital superintendent Dr Jayant Patil, and administrative officer AN Dambre — have been suspended. The action was taken on the directives of state health minister Dr Prakash Abitkar, and a departmental inquiry has been initiated against the trio. The matter came to light during the ongoing monsoon session of the state assembly when BJP MLA from Washim, Shyam Khadke, raised the issue in the House. He alleged that the recruitment process for 31 NICU contract positions for the year 2024–25 was manipulated to benefit favored contractors, bypassing norms and transparency. According to the investigation report, tenders were invited via the Govt e-Marketplace (GeM) portal and published on July 19, 2024, with the last submission date being July 29, 2024. Despite receiving 72 bids, only 4 were shortlisted for the final round, and just two were granted the contract. The selection process lacked transparency and violated several norms, the report states. The inquiry found that disqualifications were made without properly documenting the reasons, and decisions appeared to be made to benefit selected bidders. MLA Khadke accused the officials of misappropriating lakhs of rupees through this rigged tender process. The govt quickly constituted a probe committee, whose findings confirmed procedural lapses, favoritism, and technical manipulation. As a result, all three senior officers have been suspended pending further departmental inquiry. Health department sources have indicated that if found guilty, the officials may face harsher penalties, including criminal proceedings.
BBC News
30-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Man reunites with nurses who cared for him as a premature baby
A police officer who was delivered three months early as a baby has been reunited with some of the nurses who cared for Stevens, now 38, was born prematurely at Peterborough District hospital has since been replaced by Peterborough City Hospital, and Mr Stevens and his parents returned to meet some of those who had cared for also presented a cheque to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to improve facilities for the families of other pre-term babies. Father-of-two, Mr Stevens, visited the unit with his parents Lian and Mark, and met three of the nurses - Sharon Holmshaw, Georgina Mason, and Margaret Lewis - who had looked after Barke, neonatal intensive care ward manager, said: "It was an honour to be able to share such precious memories and milestones. "There was a real sense that Zak's journey had come full circle, and it was wonderful to see how well he has thrived after a premature start to life."The hospital had also found a poem his mother had written shortly after his birth in one of the ward's "memory books". Mrs Stevens said: "We wanted to share our heartfelt thanks to all the incredible nurses. It was so special to see them again. "We are forever grateful for the care, compassion, and dedication they gave us. It means the world to us as a family and will always hold a special place in our hearts." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
News18
24-07-2025
- Health
- News18
Collodion Baby: Newborn With Rare Skin Condition Admitted To ICU In MP's Rewa
The newborn is suffering from Harlequin Ichthyosis, a rare genetic disorder causing thickened, cracked skin, distorted facial features, and protruding pupils due to faulty genes In a rare and extraordinary case from the Chakghat tehsil of Madhya Pradesh's Rewa district, a pregnant woman has given birth to a baby suffering from a severe genetic disorder. The child, delivered at the Chakghat Community Health Centre, displayed unusual physical deformities and was immediately referred to the ICU at Rewa's Gandhi Memorial Hospital for specialised treatment. On Tuesday night, Priyanka Patel, daughter-in-law of Shanti Devi Patel from Dhakhra Sonnouri village in Tyonthar tehsil, experienced labour pains and was rushed to the Chakghat facility. She gave birth through normal delivery early Wednesday morning at 7 am. While the mother is in good health, the baby was born two months prematurely and in critical condition. According to Shanti Devi Patel, Priyanka was taken for regular check-ups at both government and private hospitals. Doctors had consistently assured them that the baby was healthy. Two ultrasounds were conducted at a private hospital, the latest just a day before delivery, which indicated the child would be born healthy in two months. However, labour began unexpectedly, and the newborn was delivered in a severely deformed state. Dr. Naveen Kumar Mishra from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (JR1 Paediatrics Department) at Gandhi Memorial Hospital confirmed that the newborn is suffering from Harlequin Ichthyosis, a rare genetic disorder caused when both parents carry the faulty gene. The condition leads to thickened, cracked skin, distorted facial features, and protruding pupils, significantly reducing the chances of survival. The child also showed signs of Collodion Baby, another rare disorder characterised by tight, dry, and fragile skin prone to cracking. Due to respiratory complications, the newborn has been placed on oxygen support since birth. Doctors at Gandhi Memorial Hospital are closely monitoring the baby's condition. While these genetic disorders are extremely rare, with only one or two cases reported annually, the medical team remains hopeful and is continuing treatment with utmost care. view comments First Published: July 24, 2025, 13:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
