Sisters thank Wishaw neonatal team for life-saving treatment

THREE sisters returned to Wishaw General Hospital to thank the neonatal team for the life-saving treatment they provided.

The Hoey sisters with neonatal staff. Picture: Supplied

Premature twins Jessica and Lucy Hoey, 7, were joined by big sister Rachel, 9, to hand over a cheque for £850. The three girls raised their tremendous total by doing a six kilometre sponsored walk around Strathclyde Park.

Rachel said: “The people at the hospital are so very special to me because without them my little sisters would not be here today.”

Lucy and Jessica in the neonatal unit. Picture: Supplied

The three girls, who live in Newarthill and attend Newarthill Primary School, came up with the idea to do the sponsored walk during the school holidays.

It was a real family affair as they were joined on the walk by their parents, Stacey and Peter Hoey, as well as their gran, aunts and uncles. Their granddad also helped out by driving round the park supplying drinks and packed lunches to them.

Mum Stacey said: “The girls were over the moon that they were able to come back to the hospital that saved them to hand over the cheque from their fundraising walk.

“The £850 raised for the neonatal unit at Wishaw came from kind donations from friends, family and work colleagues. I am so proud of the three of them, the sponsored walk was all their own idea. They were very excited and they’re already thinking of what else they can do to raise even more money.”

Lucy and Jessica in the neonatal unit. Picture: Supplied

During the walk, the girls wore matching T-shirts with a picture of the twins when they were in the neonatal unit printed on.

Lucy, who was 3lb 11oz when she was born, spent three weeks and five days in the neonatal unit while Jessica, who was 2lbs, spent nine weeks and two days in the unit.

As well as handing over the cheque, the girls also presented the staff with thank you notes.

Lucy’s note read ‘without you guys me and Jessica would not have been born’ and Jessica’s said ‘thank you for helping me be born and looking after me’.

Wendy Drysdale, senior midwife, said: “It was wonderful to see Jessica and Lucy and to know that they are thriving so much that they decided to do a charity walk on our behalf.

“The staff were really touched when they received the special thank you messages from each of the girls.

“On behalf of the neonatal unit I would like to thank Jessica, Lucy and Rachel, their mum and dad, and their extended family for the generosity they have shown and for keeping us in their thoughts.”