A FAMILY from Lewannick has started collecting stamps to raise money for the neonatal ward that cared for their premature daughter.

The Mullen family’s rollercoaster started the week before Christmas last year. Isabelle was due on February 9, but was born on January 4.

In December, Tammy and Shayne went for the usual two weekly growth scan, but was told that the baby’s growth had slowed down.

More scans followed over the next couple of weeks, but the couple were told that the growth had slowed further.

After talks with the consultant, Tammy was told that she would be induced on January 4. She was given steroids to help the baby’s lungs and was kept in hospital at Exeter overnight due to high blood pressure.

Tammy explained: “I was put on a monitor to check Isabelle’s heart rate and movements. I was on it for two hours and was told that her ‘sleepy moments’ were longer than they would like, so they transferred me to the labour ward so they could keep a closer eye on us.”

The doctors decided to carry out an emergency cesarean due to Tammy suffering from pre-eclampsia.

“I was in theatre at 5am. It was a very strange experience but a positive one, no complications in the op. Isabelle was born at 5.46am weighing just 3lb 10oz. Shayne went over to see her and came back and the midwife handed her all bundled up to him.

“I got to see her for a moment and she was whisked off to the Neonatal ICU. It was a very strange feeling going back and being back in the delivery room without my baby and not being pregnant anymore.”

Five hours later, Tammy was taken down to see Isabelle.

“She was laying there kicking and waving her tiny arms around in her incubator. She had wires attached to her to monitor different things; she was so small we were afraid to pick her up so the nurses gave her to us.”

Tammy was still a patient and remained in the hospital for 11 days while they tried to control her blood pressure. Being in the hospital meant that she was able to go and see Isabelle all the time.

She said: “Isabelle was in hospital for 18 days; it seemed like a lifetime. It was really hard being there with her in hospital but you somehow find a strength to push through and you just do everything you possibly can to help the nurses and your baby.

“All of the midwives, doctors, consultants and nurses were absolutely amazing. The nurses and the other parents in neonatal soon became like a second family and weirdly it was much like home from home there.

“They did everything they could to help and always had time for you, whether it be for advice, help or even just a chat, they were there.”

When Tammy and Shayne were allowed to take Isabelle home, she weighed 4lb 40z, now she is almost nine months old and weighs over 16lb.

The couple now want to give something back and are raising funds for the unit by collecting stamps, franked or unfranked (foreign stamps included).

There is a drop off point in Hush Hair and Beauty in Launceston or they can be collected. The couple are also collecting ink cartridges.