Sudden arrival
When our twin boys were born prematurely, our journey as new parents turned out to be nothing like we had imagined. My pregnancy had been fairly straightforward, but then everything changed. I went into unexpected labour at 23 weeks, with our twins being born at our local hospital in Colchester. Needing urgent specialist treatment, we were informed they’d have to be transferred urgently to Cambridge, over an hour away from home. The news was overwhelming. Ollie, my husband, scrambled to pack a bag, with both of us still reeling from the shock of our babies’ sudden arrival.
By the time we arrived in Cambridge, our hearts were heavy with worry and exhaustion. We’d been up for days, barely eating or sleeping, as our minds raced with questions about our sons’ chances of survival. In those first few hours, seeing them in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) surrounded by life-saving machines was incredibly hard. As relieved as we were to see them in good hands, we were also feeling isolated and drained.
A sanctuary at Chestnut House
In that chaotic moment, the staff guided us to Chestnut House, a ‘Home from Home’ run by a charity called The Sick Children’s Trust. It was only a few floors below the NICU, yet it felt worlds away from the clinical environment above.
The room was quiet, clean, and warm. It had everything we needed, from a comfortable bed to shared kitchen and living areas and we were only minutes from our babies. Just knowing we didn’t have to think about where we would stay lifted a huge weight off our shoulders. I don’t know how we would have managed otherwise, both physically and emotionally.
Heartbreakingly, despite all the care he received, our second twin, Arlo, wasn’t strong enough to survive. The morning after we arrived in Cambridge, a call came while we were resting in Chestnut House to inform us that he was deteriorating quickly. I can’t bear to think what would have happened if we hadn’t been staying right there in the hospital. If we’d been at home, hours away, we might not have made it in time. We were with him, holding him as he passed, and those precious moments were possible because we were close by.
We stayed at Chestnut House for nearly three months while Avi, our surviving twin, continued to fight and grow stronger. During this time, we spent countless sleepless nights by Avi’s side, often returning to the comfort of Chestnut House when we needed a break. Knowing we were just a short walk from him at any moment gave us so much peace of mind. Ollie, who is a DJ, would work late and come to the hospital straight from work, staying near Avi through the night. Chestnut House made it possible for us to be with him, even on the hardest days when exhaustion or fear took over.
A bittersweet homecoming
After a while, Avi’s condition improved enough for us to spend the final weeks of his hospital stay commuting from home. We thought this would feel like a relief, but instead, it was a reminder of just how much Chestnut House had helped us.
Every mile of that long drive brought back the stress we’d felt early on, and we realised just how much worse those first few months would have been without a nearby place to stay. Chestnut House had been our lifeline, allowing us to stay close to Avi without draining ourselves financially or emotionally.
Finally, after 128 days, Avi was ready to come home. It was a moment we’d dreamed of, and yet it felt bittersweet. We were thrilled to bring him home, yet we couldn’t shake the sadness of leaving the hospital with only one baby. The transition to life at home was overwhelming. Avi came home with oxygen and a list of medications, and the security of the hospital was gone. But as challenging as those first days were, having him home was a joy. Every milestone Avi reached felt like a gift, a reminder of his strength.
Today, Avi is 21 months old and thriving. He’s energetic and joyful, babbling away and getting ready to walk. His journey isn’t over, as he’ll continue to be monitored for the effects of his early birth, but his progress is a testament to the care he received in the NICU and the support we had at Chestnut House.
Reflections
Reflecting on that time, I realise how vital Chestnut House was for our mental wellbeing. On World Prematurity Day, I think back to those weeks and how much it helped to meet other families at Chestnut House who were facing similar situations. It’s hard to explain what it’s like to have a child in the NICU unless you’ve been there, and those connections helped me cope. When I returned to Chestnut House this year to leave journals for other parents, it felt like coming home. It’s a place that gave us support when we needed it most, a refuge during one of the most challenging chapters of our lives.
The Sick Children’s Trust didn’t just give us a room to stay in – they gave us the ability to be with our son in his most vulnerable moments. I don’t know how we would have coped without Chestnut House. It allowed us to focus on Avi and each other, knowing that at least one thing in our lives was taken care of.
Keeley Weeks, Avi’s mum