Dad's tribute ride for baby who lived one day

A dad said he would be "forever grateful" to hospital staff who cared for both of his daughters - one of whom died the day after she was born.

James Turner's daughter Hope lived for just one day after being born 17 weeks early in March 2021 and lived only one day. Emilee was born 13 weeks early in 2019 and survived.

Mr Turner, who is about to cycle 1,000 miles (1,609km) to raise money for Hull's neonatal unit, said the nurses went the extra mile for children on the ward by buying baby clothes, cotton wool and day-to-day items using their own money.

"Myself and my family are forever grateful for the care that they gave to my children and this is my way of giving back," he said.

Weighing 1lb 11oz (764g), Emilee spent 13 weeks in Hull Women and Children's Hospital's neonatal unit.

She had multiple operations and setbacks but, despite initially going home with a feed tube, the farmer from Hull said his daughter came on "leaps and bounds".

"To look at her now you would never know – she's one of the tallest in her class but she used to fit on my hand," the 30-year-old said.

He added: "I don't know why - whether it being the care or the people around, I just always knew that she would be fine."

Hope - Mr Turner's second child - was born 17 weeks early on 4 March 2021 and weighed 1lb 3oz (539g).

After experiencing a collapsed lung and other complications, Hope died the day after she was born.

"Every week when you're born early matters - 13 weeks to 17 weeks is a dramatic difference," Mr Turner said.

"I looked on the wall because they had printed photos of the babies that made it through and she would've been the lightest baby to make it through the neonatal."

Mr Turner said: "I was just nervous through it all. You never know what to expect and the worst thing for a parent to do is to lose a child.

"It's in the back of your mind but I'm trying to be strong for Emilee and everybody else in your family but inside I'm a little bit broken and holding it together through it all."

Mr Turner described the support he and his partner received from the neonatal unit as "unbelievable".

"I spoke to a few nurses who would buy clothes for parents that maybe didn't have it or didn't have enough," he said.

"Some of the nurses buy the cotton wool and day-to-day things themselves or through donations. That was really eye-opening while we were in there - just the amount of stuff that they do and the nurses themselves."

Mr Turner is planning to cycle from Lands End to John O'Groats to honour both of his daughters.

"Part of the reason I wanted to do this was to give back and the other part was to see how far I can physically push myself," he said.

After taking on a half marathon last year, Mr Turner hopes to run a full marathon and Dragon's Back race - an ultra-running race through the Welsh mountains.

"I would never have done any of that before. I would have just carried on being a farmer, doing my day-to-day life and never pushed my boundaries."

Mr Turner is starting the challenge with two friends - Dan Peacock and Spencer Cooper - on 28 June.

He said he hopes the money raised the neonatal unit will help ensure other families receive the same level of care and support his family experienced.

"I would imagine every single person would know somebody that's had a child either go through the neonatal or have some form of care from the nurses in the neonatal and they really do go the extra mile," he said.

"There is nothing that they wouldn't do for a mother or father that's in there."

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