Couple raise cash to thank unit that cared for daughter
A MUM who went into labour seven weeks early is fundraising for a neonatal unit.
Sheryl and Ioan Davies, from Cardiff, were on their last break before the due date and had spent the day at the Harry Potter Studios in Watford when the mum-to-be started feeling what she thought were signs of labour.
The pair were planning to travel home the next day, but Sheryl was advised by her midwife in Cardiff to not attempt the drive and instead go straight to hospital.
Upon arriving at Watford General Hospital, Sheryl was admitted to spend the night, so she sent her husband back to the hotel to get some sleep.
Little did she know, just a few hours later, daughter Nia would be arriving via C-section after Sheryl suffered a placenta abruption.
“It was so scary because my husband was not there, I thought me and my baby were going to die,” said Sheryl.
Baby Nia arrived in the early hours of March 23, 2018, and is now a healthy happy baby at 16 months old.
After spending a week at Watford Hospital, Nia was moved to the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, while waiting for a bed to become available at the University Hospital of Wales.
The care and support the family received from all three neonatal units has inspired the couple to fundraise for Cardiff’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
“I think it takes a certain type of person to be a neonatal nurse. They were so great with Nia in
Sheryl
“They even managed to put us up in the Ronald McDonald house near the Heath towards the final days of Nia’s stay so I could have support with breastfeeding.”
Sheryl said one of the goals that the Tiny Lives appeal at the Noah’s Ark ward has is to set up better mental health support for the parents, something she feels passionate about supporting due to her own experience.
“I had it really bad, both physically and mentally,” added Sheryl.
Now, she will be running the Severn Bridge 10k whilst her husband will be completing the half marathon on August 25.
■ If you wish to support the couple’s fundraising efforts, visit gofundme. com/f/ioan-and-shem-are-doingthe-severn-crossing-run Cardiff,” said