“Being just eight minutes away meant we could be parents”
When I was pregnant with twins, Dexter and Leo, we never expected them to arrive so early.
At 30 weeks, doctors made the decision to deliver them by caesarean section because they were very small. Following a routine blood test, I had also developed a condition called obstetric cholestasis, which could have been detrimental to their health.
Before they were born, we were told they would need to spend a significant amount of time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at King’s. Amid all the worry and uncertainty, we were trying to work out how we would manage to stay close to them and spend as much time together as possible.
A member of the NICU team mentioned that we might be able to stay at Ronald McDonald House Camberwell. Until that moment, I had no idea this kind of support existed, it was such a relief to find out it did!
Although we didn’t live very far from King’s, the journey could take up to an hour each way. We wanted to be with Dexter and Leo as much as possible, taking part in those important early moments of parenthood, feeding them, caring for them and simply being there.
Being just an eight-minute walk from the hospital made all the difference.
Our stay also took place during the particularly hot summer of June and July 2021. Travelling back and forth by car or train while recovering from childbirth would have been extremely difficult, so having somewhere nearby to stay eased a huge burden.
After a few weeks, my partner Matt had to return to work. The House staff provided a parking permit so he could bring his van and commute without the added worry and expense of central London parking. It was one less thing for us to think about during an already challenging time.
We stayed at Camberwell House from early June until mid-July. During that time, Dexter was discharged first and came to live with us at the House while Leo remained in NICU. For the final two weeks of our stay, we were able to care for one twin while making daily visits to the other. The staff were wonderful, even helping us navigate life around the House with a double pram.
One of the unexpected highlights of our stay was meeting other families going through similar experiences. We often spent time together around mealtimes, sharing stories and supporting one another. Our extended family were also able to visit, and we enjoyed spending time together in the House garden.
Looking back, having the support of Ronald McDonald House UK was invaluable. It was such a worrying time, but they helped us focus on what mattered most- being a family.