Momentous Miraculous Moments…Rebecca’s Room a Reality!

So we’ve actually done it… got to the supposedly magical 24 weeks (well actually will be 26 on Tuesday but it’s taken me a while to write this!)… when various sources state that your baby has a 50/50 chance of surviving if born at this gestation. It’s odd, as although if born this early the baby would be extremely premature and likely have a range of massive health problems, it was still an important milestone for us to hit. It is over double what we got to with Isabella, and seven weeks more than we got to with Max. I have extremely positive moments when I think about how far along we are now, but then extremely negative moments when I realised we still now have another twelve ish weeks to go before they will induce me at thirty eight weeks, and I still check for blood every single time I go to the toilet.

Anyway, back to the positive. Had a scan on Thursday and everything is looking normal at the moment! Saw my consultant and she’s happy with how things are going, agreement is to have another scan in four weeks and clinic appointment with her, but go and see my local midwives in a fortnights time to check blood pressure and urine. My consultant (Miss Hutt) is being so thorough that she has also booked in a gestational diabetes test for me in three weeks time, to “make sure we don’t have any nasty surprises”.

BUT the main reason for writing this blog, and it’s title, was the opening of the Rebecca Room this week! I honestly thought it would never happen, not because I didn’t have trust in the wonder woman that is Wendy Fuller, but just that it was so surreal that a room would be opened with my name at Royal Surrey County Hospital.

Mum and I went along on Thursday and met Wendy at Compton Ward reception then walked down to a side room, which had a big purple bow on it. In the vestibule area there is one Forget-Me-Not picture that Wendy and I chose, and another picture on the wall – which was actually the image we had on Max’s order of service back in May last year. Wendy had organised lots of lovely cake, and various people joined us in the room, some of the lovely EPU staff, Sisters who work on Compton ward, some of the great board members I went to speak to back in March.  I was truly touched to see them taking time in their day to come, and it was clear they all really cared. The room is painted in two different tones of purple, much more calming than the bright yellow door that had been there before!

Wendy then showed me the amazing work her and the team had done on the new information box that that the have on the ward – most importantly it includes a printed version of a new pathway of care when pregnant ladies come onto the ward, it documents EVERY step that staff should take, with a checklist of items that are needed to ensure that during a traumatic time ladies are treated sensitively thorough out. It also includes an “in memory” book I gave them for bereaved parents to write in, as well as the same memory boxes that are used in the Forget-Me-Not suite on the maternity ward. Wendy told me that staff from the Compton ward are also now doing shifts on the EPU to help their interactions with maternity patients. I did ask if they had anyone else lose a baby on the ward since me, and sadly there has been one lady, but Wendy said due to lessons learnt from my experience, her ordeal had been handled very differently, so it’s reassuring to again know that it has helped others, even if it still brings me to tears every time I think about it.

After a tour of the room, and chatting to various members of staff, I was invited out to cut the ribbon! There were lots more staff waiting outside, and it was heart warming to see them all coming along to see the opening of this very special room. When I cut the ribbon I was astounded to see a brass sign saying Rebecca’s Room – I genuinely thought it was just going to be referred to that in paperwork/by the staff, not for all to see! Of course this made me cry (and mum), but Wendy was on hand to give me a big hug. There was a photographer there, and afterwards I had a chat with someone in communications, so there will be a press release coming out soon that I will share with you all.

The room is brilliant, it will always be a sad time for the parents that use that room, but it certainly is a more tranquil setting, and is equipped to deal with things so much better now. I am in awe of Wendy (and her team) – her determination, her passion and her drive to get this done. It really does feel like a miracle. I can’t wait for Wendy to meet the little man, and I really feel I have a friend for life, she will always hold a special place in my heart. Ultimately, the world needs more Wendy’s!!!

The big purple ribbon

Vestibule Image

Drink and Cakes!

Max’s order of service image

The all important box

Cutting the Tap

Rebecca’ Room Sign

The Wondrous Wendy