Leeds Hospitals Charity is supporting a parent-led fundraising drive for the Neonatal Units at Leeds Children's Hospital, part of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Staff, supported by parents who are currently on, or have previously spent time on the hospital’s neonatal units, have come together in the hope of raising £5,000 for Leeds Hospitals Charity, enabling them to continue to support the Beads of Courage programme for poorly babies.

Beads of Courage is an internationally renowned not-for-profit programme that first launched in the United States. It helps children tell their stories using colourful beads as symbols of hope and courage along their treatment journey. Leeds Hospitals Charity is one of many charities that provides funding to enable the Beads of Courage initiative to happen across wards at Leeds Children’s Hospital.

37-year-old Vicki Randall from Morley, spent 16 weeks in hospital with her son Leo. In November 2022, Vicki’s waters broke at just 25 weeks pregnant, and she was rushed to hospital for an emergency c-section.

Leo was taken straight to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Leeds Children’s Hospital for life-saving treatment. Vicki spent every waking moment by Leo’s side, thrust into an unfamiliar hospital environment.

At a time that was incredibly difficult for first time mum Vicki, she was offered some solace when a Play Specialist on the unit introduced her to Beads of Courage when Leo was just a few days old.

For Vicki, the Beads of Courage programme turned a very challenging time into a positive way to follow Leo’s hospital journey, she told us:

“Every week, I collected new beads for Leo, representing every operation, blood transfusion and procedure he went through, and I remember thinking that with each new bead, he was one step closer to coming home with us.

“I met other parents also collecting the beads and it built a community on the unit, where we could all share experiences and take pride in what our babies had overcome already. I had Leo’s beads proudly displayed at the end of his bed, and it made me smile when I saw it every time I walked into the room.”

Leo is now a happy and healthy two-year-old, and Vicki is eternally grateful to the staff on the Neonatal Units who saved her little boy's life. Vicki says the beads are a special keepsake and something she will treasure forever, and is looking forward to sharing the beads with Leo when he is old enough to understand what they mean.”

The programme empowers families to tell their baby’s story of courage and in the future children to have something to look back on their hospital journey.

For every milestone of treatment, babies are given a bead which they take home after their stay, as a lasting memory for how strong they have been against adversity.

Laura Mottram, Neonatal Nursery Nurse said:

“Beads of Courage is a wonderful programme that I am proud to offer to our neonatal families. Over the years I have seen how the beads support and inspire many families, offering them comfort in what can often be a very stressful time. It helps parents to discuss treatments and procedures their baby has experienced. Beads of Courage is not only for Mum and Dad but also the whole family it's a great way to involve siblings in their baby’s journey, families treasure the beads and look forward to sharing their story for many years.

“They bring parents together, gives them something to talk about and offers peer support which we know is extremely beneficial to families on a neonatal unit. It brings me a sense of pride when families attend the Beads of Courage sessions, seeing the emotion each bead brings, and supporting families through this reminds me of the difference we make every day.”

Donate to the fundraising page here