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The Sun appeals to help fund Bliss, the leading UK charity dedicated to babies born premature or sick
You can help Bliss's ongoing work by donating here
A BABY’S first Christmas should be a magical time.
But every year thousands of the smallest and most vulnerable children will spend their first one in hospital.
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Show your support for Bliss by donating here
For their families, it can be an overwhelming and worrying time.
That is why this year The Sun is partnering with , to sprinkle some Christmas cheer.
We hope that through YOU, our generous army of readers, we can raise money that will help fund Bliss’s ongoing incredible work.
It trains doctors and nurses to help parents care for their babies, which is proven to lead to better long-term health.
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Bliss also pushes for better family facilities in hospitals, so parents can stay close to their babies.
Plus it trains volunteers to work in neonatal units and funds research into reducing pain for little ones.
One in eight babies is born needing neonatal care in the UK and the figure is rising. Up to 8,000 will spend their first Christmas in neonatal units this year.
Our appeal will also provide care packages for families spending the festive period at a hospital cotside.
We’ll take Christmas to them, with essentials and treats.
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Show your support for Bliss by donating here
Bliss chief executive Caroline Lee-Davey, says: “We are so grateful to The Sun for choosing to support us.
“We hope this campaign will shine a light on what life is like for these poorly babies, and for their families.
“With the help and generosity of Sun readers, Bliss will be able to reach even more babies born premature or sick and their families with support this Christmas and beyond.”
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The six babies spent last Christmas Day in hospital, fighting for their lives. However, helped by Bliss, they all made it through.
This year they will put up stockings at home for the first time.
Ruby Rowley
RUBY weighed 2lbs 4oz when born at 27 weeks on October 27. Parents Ford Rowley, 29, who works at Waitrose, and Cathy D’Costa, 30, live in East London with Trey, 11, and Effy, eight.
The stay-at-home mum, who is deaf, says: "Ruby was born at the University College of London Hospital, and I had 24-hour access to a sign language interpreter, which helped me to understand what was happening.
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"She was transferred back to our local hospital, Whipps Cross, in time for Christmas and it was wonderful to see her have a cuddle with her siblings.
"When you have a premature baby, you feel overwhelmed. But Bliss makes sure that every parent has all the information they need.
"A Bliss volunteer gave me a lovely memory box and premature baby clothes that meant so much."
Grayson Banks
GRAYSON has suffered lung problems since he arrived 11 weeks early on November 29 at Royal Bolton Hospital.
Full-time mum Samantha Edwards, 26, and postman Jonathan Banks, 29, from Manchester, hope he will be able to spend this Christmas at home.
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Samantha says: "Last Christmas was tough. I couldn’t get my head around how people could be celebrating while my world was falling apart.
"But Bliss provided us with baby milestone cards, like wearing clothes for the first time.
"It might sound small but they gave us something to work towards."
Newborn baby appeal
TO DONATE: mcb777.site/light-up-christmasOR CALL: 020 7378 5740
How to help
DONATE ONLINE: Go to.
DONATE BY TEXT: Sending BLISS followed by the amount (e.g. BLISS £10) to 70085. You can choose to donate £1, £3, £5, £10, £15 or £20. You will be charged the standard network rate when texting your keyword.
DONATE BY PHONE: Call 020 7378 5740.
DONATE BY POST: Please make cheques payable to “Bliss – National Charity for the Newborn” to Freepost RTZJ-GZYE-RCUA, The Sun Appeal, Bliss, Fourth Floor, Maya House, 134-138 Borough High Street, London SE1 1LB.
Rosie and Lottie Christmas
LOTTIE and Rosie were born at 26 weeks, on October 10 at Queen’s Hospital, Romford, East London, weighing just over 2lbs each, to solicitors David Christmas, 34, and Helen.
She says: "There was a moment in the delivery room that I feared we would go home without our babies.
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"Lottie arrived first, and hearing her squeak like a mouse gave us hope they could survive.
"It was one of the scariest experiences of my life to be left in that room afterwards, just me and David, not knowing where our babies were or whether they were OK. The girls were rushed to the Royal London Hospital and it was five days before I held them.
"I could fit each baby in my hands and their arms were only as wide as one of my fingers.
"The staff made such an effort to make Christmas special, with festive music and gifts.
"Our dinner was a Subway turkey sandwich.
"Having babies born so prematurely is traumatic but, knowing Bliss was there, helped us.
"The charity got us through those early days when we had no idea about what happens with premature babies.
"Reading all the positive stories in the leaflets helped us feel less alone and gave us hope."
Show your support for Bliss by donating here
most read in real life
Aria and Nylah Heaven-Sharp
TWINS Aria and Nylah were born on December 16, at 33 weeks, weighing 3lbs 5oz and 3lbs 7oz respectively. Full-time mum Jardine Heaven, 24, and binman Andre Sharp, 25, live in Edmonton, North London, with Kyeden, three.
Jardine says: "Aria is the cheeky one. She’s very active and loves singing. Nylah is bigger and six minutes younger, and she’s more laidback – unless she’s hungry!
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"Looking at the girls now, it’s amazing to think they spent their first three weeks in neonatal care, with translucent skin and feeding tubes.
"Last Christmas didn’t feel like Christmas at all. Every time I went home, I felt like I’d left part of my soul at the hospital.
"The medics and nurses were brilliant but their priority is the babies.
";Having support for parents is important as you can be sitting there for hours, all alone with your fears.
"That’s where Bliss comes in, it gives parents somewhere to turn when they need it."
Newborn baby appeal
TO DONATE:
OR CALL: 020 7378 5740
How to help
DONATE ONLINE: Go to.
DONATE BY TEXT: Sending BLISS followed by the amount (e.g. BLISS £10) to 70085. You can choose to donate £1, £3, £5, £10, £15 or £20. You will be charged the standard network rate when texting your keyword.
DONATE BY PHONE: Call 020 7378 5740.
DONATE BY POST: Please make cheques payable to “Bliss – National Charity for the Newborn” to Freepost RTZJ-GZYE-RCUA, The Sun Appeal, Bliss, Fourth Floor, Maya House, 134-138 Borough High Street, London SE1 1LB.
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