November 17th was World Prematurity Day. Footballer Ben Mee, the captain of Burnley FC, has recounted the ordeal that he and his wife faced when their second child, Olive, was born prematurely. They hope their story will give hope to other parents in a similar situation.
SPUC’s Michael Robinson, Executive Director (Public Affairs and Legal Services), said: “Ben’s testimony serves to offer comfort and hope to other parents navigating their way through a premature birth.”
Baby Olive was born at 24 weeks, just four days after the abortion cut-off period. She weighed around the “same as a tin of beans” and spent 16 weeks in intensive care. Only one parent was allowed to be at her bedside because of lockdown restrictions.
Finally, this September, Ben and his wife, Sarah, took Olive home.
“To look at Olive toddling around the living room now laughing, you wouldn’t have a clue what she’s been through, the months of anxiety not knowing if she’d make it”, said Ben.
“We spent endless weeks sitting by her incubator staring at all the bleeping monitors, praying she’d be ok. It was so scary, I felt so daunted, unsure what to ask, what I could do to make it better.”
After complications during pregnancy, Sarah was checked into St. Mary’s Hospital, in Manchester, which specialises in treating premature babies.
"Finally holding her hand was amazing"
Olive was born on 17 May.
Ben said: “She came out in a sac and looked like a tiny little bird, almost too small to survive. She was then put in a plastic bag to keep her warm and then into an incubator…
“Olive was impossibly small, and covered in seemingly endless wires and tubes, finally holding her hand was simply amazing.”
During this time, Ben continued to play for Burnley FC. During a match in June, he discovered that Manchester City’s David Silva had also had a premature baby, born at just 25 weeks, and received some much-needed words of support from the famous Spanish international.
“Our heart goes out to any other parents who have a premature baby”, Ben reflects. “We know how terrifying it is, and how we’re the lucky ones to have a healthy, happy little girl at home now.”