Fundraiser Spotlight: Sian Daley takes on London Landmarks Half
05 April 2024
Sian Daley is taking on the London Landmarks Half Marathon on Sunday 7 April to fundraise for St George’s after her son was treated here when he was born prematurely in 2016.
Their journey began in early November 2016, Sian recounts (on her JustGiving page) her excitement at becoming a mother and the events of her son’s birth: “I was so so happy! I’ve always wanted a baby, my sister had her baby when she was very young so I was used to having small nieces around and I felt I was settled in life and ready for the next chapter.
“I just couldn’t wait to meet him! Turns out he couldn’t wait to meet us either and to my absolute disbelief I went into preterm labour at 3:10am on 9 November 2016. We spent a week at Queen’s Hospital in Romford, as we lived in Essex at the time.”
After a week’s stay at Queen’s Hospital Sian was informed that her son would need to be transferred to another hospital for further treatment: “Unfortunately, his condition was deteriorating and the doctors said we will likely be transferred. Queens Hospital didn’t have a surgical team and they told me the treatment he required couldn’t be provided there.
“A short while later a nurse approached us and said he had been given a place at St George’s Hospital, I was happy because I knew that was what he needed but I was also terrified.
“I’ll never forget that transfer, we walked through the hospital to get to the ambulance, and I was behind my baby in his incubator and all his tubes, everyone we passed stared at his tiny body and would then look up at me in pity.
“I felt so helpless and like I wasn’t deserving because my body failed my baby.”
Sian then talked about her experience at St George’s: “At the time I took all this help because I was so wrapped up in my own struggle. I thought I was strong for get through it all, but it wasn’t me, it was all the amazing people at St George’s who work so hard to not only offer life-saving care but more than that install what I can only describe as safety nets to catch people like me and my family and get us through.
“We had a rough stay with several setbacks and I could go on all day with the stories I have from NICU and I did witness babies pass, I saw their parents crumble, but there in that same place at St George’s I also saw the kindest examples of humanity the gestures and the selfless staff that open their doors and keep going day in and day out, tirelessly.
“Thanks to their commitment I eventually got to walk out that hospital with my baby in my arms and I never want to forget that feeling because there are so many who are less fortunate than us and I owe so much to the people who helped us.”
Sian has smashed her fundraising target of £350, and so far has raised over double the amount.
Charlotte Sills, Senior Public Fundraising Manager at St George’s Hospital Charity said: “We are so proud of Sian for sharing her story in such a heartfelt and honest way, and we are also so proud of her fundraising efforts so far – we can’t wait to cheer her on.”
