Mal Pope and his family were over the moon when they found out a new addition would be joining their family. However, when his daughter was just 21 weeks pregnant, her waters broke. She went into labour and five days later, her son, Gulliver was born. Gulliver was born at Singleton Hospital in Swansea and was cared for in the NICU there for six days before he sadly died.
Mal, a Welsh musician and broadcaster, has opened up about the family's heartbreak. With permission from his daughter to share their story, Mal says things are "still very tender". Yet he hopes their story can aid a vital campaign to support families in similar situations to theirs.
READ MORE: Dramatic 999 call hears woman trying to save husband after he collapses while waiting for a haircut
READ MORE: 'A reaction to mould left me struggling to breathe – it took me 12 months to recover'
Mal said: "Thankfully most pregnancies are wonderful. But to go through what we went through, as a grandfather it made me think of other people who are also not so fortunate. That's why I want to help.
"Once we had been through it, and started talking about it, we realised just how many others have been through the same thing. It's only when something hits you out of the blue that you realise how fragile the whole process of bringing a new life into the world is.
"My little girl's waters broke at 21 weeks, and the baby was born five days later. The hospital was wonderful. They were absolutely amazing. Not just technically but in the way that they treated everybody. They gave the very best care to little Gulliver, but sadly, after six days, he left us." For the latest health and Covid news, sign up to our newsletter here
Mal and his family spent countless hours next to his grandson's bedside during his short life. "We live in Swansea and were able to pop in and out and sleep in our own beds," he said.
"The NICU staff provided support for my daughter and son-in-law so that they could sleep next to Gulliver and spend as much time with him as possible, but they were also close enough to get home if their other children needed them.
"When I heard about Cwtsh Clos it made me realise how lucky we were in such terrible circumstances. Other people, who live further afield, have to come to the area and want to be close but they can't afford to stay in a hotel for weeks on end."
Cwtsh Clos are five houses near Singleton Hospital that are used by families whose children need long-term care and treatment at the hospital's NICU. But these much-needed properties now need updating. Mal is supporting the Cwtsh Clos campaign which aims to raise £160,000 to help parents whose babies are in intensive care, often over long periods.
"I'm more than delighted to support the project in memory of my little Gulliver," he said. Mal said the fundraising campaign offers those who have used the service - and the wider public a chance to help. He said: "You could really make a difference by supporting Cwtsh Clos."
Helen James, matron of neonatal services, said: "Parents understandably want to be close to their babies whilst they are being nursed on the neonatal unit. We have five accommodation houses a short distance from the unit to offer those families that live a distance away from Singleton Hospital. Parents are always very grateful for these facilities.
"Our service covers all of West Wales up to Aberystwyth, as well as accepting cases that may have been in the area on holiday. We offer this accommodation free of charge. For families it takes away the stress of finding accommodation nearby and the cost of travelling back and forth. In this economic climate a lot of families do find it tough financially."
The houses provide cooking and laundry facilities. Helen said: "The houses are a place that parents can treat as their home, a place to relax. Supporting parents with their mental well-being is just as important as providing care for the babies." Since 2016, these homes have been used by around 400 families.
She continued: "Since we've had the houses we haven't had an opportunity with limited resources, to refurbish them to a standard we would like and families deserve. They have been used so extensively, we now need to refurbish them so that we can support parents.
"Having a baby on a neonatal unit is very stressful for parents and the team do an excellent job in supporting parents to come to terms with having a poorly baby or having a preterm baby. But then those parents need to have a place to rest and recharge themselves so it's really important that we provide an environment that is comfortable and calm. We want to make it a pleasure to stay there." Support award-winning journalism with WalesOnline’s Premium app on Apple or Android
Shahnur Kham, from Bridgend, is currently staying on one of the homes while her son is in NICU. She shared: "My son, Ayaan, was born at 28 weeks and was really small. About 500g. He was really vulnerable. At first, they let us stay in one of the family rooms off the ward. We stayed there for four or five days, then one of the houses became available.
"Being so close makes a huge difference. Especially in the early days. So much can go wrong and the amount of time it takes to travel. It causes a lot of worry as well. When my husband had to go back to work, that was an added pressure, having to travel by myself after having a C-section. That would have been really difficult. It's amazing that they have these homes for people who aren't local."
If you are an organisation and would like to support the campaign, you can do so by getting in touch with swanseabay.healthcharity@wales.nhs. If you would like to make a donation, or fundraise yourself, you can do so here.
