Thank you for taking the time to read our story.

 As many of you already know, our little boys decided to come very ahead of schedule at just 27 weeks on 10th February 2011 and Aidan John & James Anthony Dodds were born at just 1lb 14 1/2oz and 2lb 7oz at 21:29 and 21:36. 

 This has been, and hopefully will be, the hardest thing we've ever had to go through. Aidan was and is our beautiful first born son, but he had just been through too much in delivery and at just 14 hours old, we had to let him go.

 It was very peaceful and we can't thank the people in the special care baby unit enough for the way they handled everything. You have very little time to think of everything you want and need to do before you let go of this little life and understandably there is so much you don't think of, but they gently guided us through, ensuring our "always loved, never forgotten" memory box was complete, with his tiny hand and foot prints and other keepsakes we may have otherwise overlooked.  After they had carefully dressed him, we got to spend some precious time with Aidan in our room after he'd passed, something which we didn't think we wanted but I'm so glad they suggested it. It gave us time to get to know his little face which we will always remember. 

  Still in his plastic campervan, and thanks to all the lovely nurses he has fighting over him, James grows stronger every day and although he went on to a ventilator for a couple of days, he's come back off that now and he's been trying out his voice and although it shouldn't be it's lovely to hear him cry! For such a little man he's got a very big voice, just like his dad! 

 We have started this page in memory of Aidan to support Scoo-B-Doo, who through its fundraising efforts provides essential equipment for those tiny, fragile babies that need a little bit of extra help. 

The cost of essential equipment: 

 Incubator – £15,000 – £18,000 

 Ventilator – £20,000 – £25,000 

 Monitor – £3,000 – £7,000

 Without such equipment we would not have had those precious few hours with Aidan, or indeed still have James.

 Scoo-B-Doo currently support The Special Care Baby Unit at Gloucester Royal Hospital. The majority of the equipment at the unit has been purchased using charitable donations and these need to continue to help more babies like ours. 

 

 By giving to our page you will be giving directly to Scoo-B-Doo and can help them ensure that the 600 babies admitted every year, continue to recieve the best possible care. Hopefully we'll be able to reach our target and provide another plastic campervan for these precious little people.

Thank you all for your support. 

Kate, Neil, James & Aidan xx 

 

** James is now out of his campervan and in a cot! We are able to dress him now and have given him his first bath. Weighing in at a fantastic 4lb 12oz he continues to improve everyday and we will hopefully be bringing him home with us in the next few weeks. Thank you to everyone for your support xxxx

***James has now been home with us a month and as of today weighs in at a fantastic 6lb 7oz! Thank you to everyone for their support xxxx

****James is 7 months old now and 11lb 5oz! He's on solid food which he really enjoys, in particular pears and bananas! xxxx

*****James turned 2 yesterday! He had a lovely day and was over the moon with all his presents and a very special Thomas the Tank engine cake. He makes us all extremely proud every day, it is amazing to see how far has come in these two years and what a brilliant little boy he is turning in to xxxxx