Home   News   Article

Grateful family donate to Raigmore Hospital baby unit


By Gregor White

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!
Hannah and Robert Toohill with son Fraser, Chris Smith (right) and baby unit staff.
Hannah and Robert Toohill with son Fraser, Chris Smith (right) and baby unit staff.

Robert and Hannah Toohill’s son Fraser was born 11 weeks early in September 2018 and spent nine weeks in the unit.

Just three weeks after he was born his mum was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare and incurable form of blood cancer.

Hannah's employers, insurance brokers Jelf Clark Thomson, is a member of the Insurance Institute of Inverness, the Highland and Islands which every year selects a charity to fundraise for.

At her suggestion this time round it chose the Special Care Baby Unit, raising a total of £2200 from a dinner and raffle.

Chris Smith, who works with Hannah and is president of the institute, said: "We are thrilled we’ve able to support them after everything they have done for Hannah, Robert and Fraser."

Mr Smith attended the unit with Robert, Hannah and baby Fraser, from Dingwall, where they got a warm welcome from staff.

Mr Toohill said: "We wanted to give something back to the unit that would help them as they helped us so much as a family. We were so well looked after by the team and that allowed us to be there for our son and each other.

"When Hannah was diagnosed with multiple myeloma so soon after the shock of Fraser being born so early and being in SCBU it was devastating. If it wasn't for the amazing care and support everyone at SCBU gave to our family I really don't know how we would have coped with everything. We will be eternally grateful. They really are angels."

Mary Law, senior charge nurse for the unit, said: "It’s always fantastic when we get to see our 'graduates'.

"Meeting Fraser again and to see that he is thriving was just lovely. We remember the family well and really can’t thank them and the Insurance Institute of Inverness, the Highlands and Islands enough for this donation.

"The money will be put towards a Kangaroo Care Chair for the unit. We currently have four and would like to get a few more.

"They are comfortable recliner chairs meaning the mum or dad can lie for a prolonged period of time with their baby and get vital skin-to-skin contact.

"There are many benefits of skin-to-skin including it being more relaxing for the baby and parents, it enhances the baby’s oxygen levels improving heart and lung function, stabilises body temperature and helps promote parent-baby communication.

"They really are an asset and we are incredibly grateful."


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More