Inspirational dad Nigel is up for an award
Couple have twins Theo and Myla who have just turned one
A 46-year-old operations director from Market Bosworth has been shortlisted for an inspirational dad award.
Nigel Mahon was nominated for the award by his wife, 48, who is currently on maternity leave with twins Theo and Myla, who have just turned one.
The national award by charity Tommy’s, which funds research into miscarriage, stillbirth and prematurity, recognises a dad who has gone through a difficult pregnancy journey with bravery and courage and stood in solidarity with their partner.
In January 2018, Nigel and Trish received the news that Trish was pregnant with twins. It was Trish’s first pregnancy and she hadn’t thought she would be able to have children.
Despite being classed as high risk, due to her age and a twin pregnancy, the couple were delighted.
Trish’s pregnancy was going well until, at 29 weeks, she was admitted to hospital with high blood pressure and was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. Left untreated, the condition is dangerous for both mother and baby.
Nigel was by his wife’s side every step of the way, as well as holding a fulltime job and preparing the couple’s home for the twins’ arrival.
Trish said: “Nigel was under a huge amount of pressure as I was told I need to stay in hospital until the babies were due. He visited me every day and slept at the hospital.”
Trish had been in hospital for five days when she and Nigel were told the babies needed to be delivered straight away because Trish was at risk of a brain clot. The couple were devastated as the survival chances for the tiny twins was not good, but the risk to Trish to continue the pregnancy was too high.
The next twelve hours were life and death, and Trish was rushed for an emergency c-section.
Nigel was by his wife’s side, holding her hand in theatre and greeting his new babies, who were born weighing just 2lb1oz.
Nigel went with the babies who needed oxygen and had to go on drips. However, when he returned to theatre he was shocked to see a team of ten surgeons around his wife as there were serious complications.
Trish eventually pulled through and was admitted to a high dependency ward.
Nigel had not slept for 48 hours and was running backwards and forwards between Trish and the babies. He continued to work for the next six weeks from the hospital bed, looking after his wife and the babies and getting the house ready.
Trish said: “My husband was amazing. I wouldn’t be here now with my beautiful children and have the faith in my babies getting stronger, if it wasn’t for Nigel.”
The winners are announced at an awards ceremony on July 11 at the Oxo Tower, London. They will be presented by celebrity mum and author Giovanna Fletcher and attended by Amanda Holden, Stacey Soloman, Emily Andre, Frankie Bridge, Clemmie Hooper and Izzy Judd.