Potters 'Arf 21: Meet our Runners
Pete Salt, Stoke-on-Trent
After running last year’s postponed Potters ‘Arf on the day by himself, we fondly welcome back Pete Salt to tackle the course once again in aid of our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)!
In November 2019, Pete and wife Dee welcomed daughter Eliza Faith into the world by emergency C-section 14 weeks early and weighing just 1lb 4oz or 850 grams.
Pete tells us: “She was critical, and over the first few weeks of her life stopped breathing twice, collapsed both lungs received four blood transfusions. On Christmas Day she was downgraded from NICU to the High Dependency Unit where she made rapid progress and came home on oxygen- four full weeks before her due date.”
“I often thought about how I could say thank you to the staff that saved Eliza’s life on numerous occasions and quite simply I can’t! There are no words that would suffice, they are heroes to us and we will be eternally grateful.”
“I ran last year’s postponed Potters ‘Arf and raised a fantastic amount of money for NICU and after everything that the Unit and families have been through thanks to the pandemic, I felt like I needed to do my bit again and push myself even further.”
“I’ve not ran for the past three weeks because of an ankle injury, so hopefully this rest will see me right. Despite the setback, I know the memories of Eliza in NICU and seeing our wonderful NHS in action saving lives (including Eliza’s) literally in front of me, will keep me going if I begin to experience any pain. My pain is nothing to compared to patients and families in NICU.”
"Whilst in A&E, Amy's condition deteriorated quickly, her blood pressure spiked and she suffered from multiple seizures. What we didn't know at the time was that Amy had been suffering from Pre Eclampsia and high blood pressure, which had escalated and turned into Eclampsia.”
“Amy's health was deteriorating further and her life was at risk, which meant that the only way of keeping her safe was to deliver Sebastian via an emergency caesarean section 15 weeks early. Throughout, I was terrified that I was going to lose my best friend. However, the decisions made by the hospital staff saved her life, and for that, I don't think I can express how grateful I am.”
“Before the operation, we were told that there was very little chance of Sebastian making it out alive, but due to the unbelievable work of all the surgeons, nurses, midwives and other hospital staff, Sebastian was born at 4:27am on 5 July weighing only 1lb 1oz, and he was taken straight to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Over the next days, the staff provided incredible care and support to Sebastian and Amy. They did everything they possibly could, comforted us, and informed us of all decisions along the way.”
“Unfortunately, on 6 July at 9:30pm, Sebastian sadly passed away. Doctors said that he had been fighting incredibly hard for the whole pregnancy, and fought all the way to the end to get a chance for us to meet as a family. Myself and Amy were absolutely heart broken, lost and numb. The NICU team, midwives on the ward and the family bereavement rooms gave us the opportunity to spend precious time with Seb before his passing, and for this, we will be forever grateful.”
“The facilities that provided us with so much comfort, and gave us memories we will never forget. We cannot imagine going through this experience without these facilities being in place.”
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