"When Molly was born she was very unwell. At 3 minutes old she was resuscitated and placed on a C-PAP machine to help her breathe. She was diagnosed with congenital pneumonia and was placed on IV antibiotics and was fed through a tube in her nose. She was so poorly but due to the amazing care she received from the doctors and nurses in the unit, after 6 days she was discharged and we were able to come home. Words cannot express how grateful we are to the hardworking and dedicated staff in the unit. The care we received was incredible. They looked after all of us so well and we will never forget what they did for our family."
Family Stories
Many thanks to all of our families for sharing their stores and giving us permission to share.
Molly
Molly
Luca
"Luca was born in Ninewells back in August 2016. For sure a day that changed our life’s forever. It certainly wasn’t the easiest of times with our little boy at the start but he nor I would have got through it without the amazing team in NICU NINEWELLS.
As soon as we walked into the unit I could almost feel the love & support straight away from the loving nurses and the pure empathy they had towards not just my baby but us as parents as well. There were many a nights when I would pop along to the unit just to sit with Luca and feel close to him. I couldn’t bare being away from him. The nurses would sit and talk to me and keep me positive throughout the night. You soon got to know them all on first name terms and they honestly felt like family to me especially. There were many tears, upset, anger and sadness but I do believe they got me through those early days.
We transferred to Glasgow children’s hospital @ 14 days old as luca was an extremely complex cardiac boy. 4 weeks later I remember praying to get back to NICU ninewells so we were closer to home. We eventually got back (felt like a lifetime) and from there we got home at the end of October. From the nurses, to the doctors to the consultants I give my absolute admiration for the job you did with my boy and the job you continue to do every single day."
As soon as we walked into the unit I could almost feel the love & support straight away from the loving nurses and the pure empathy they had towards not just my baby but us as parents as well. There were many a nights when I would pop along to the unit just to sit with Luca and feel close to him. I couldn’t bare being away from him. The nurses would sit and talk to me and keep me positive throughout the night. You soon got to know them all on first name terms and they honestly felt like family to me especially. There were many tears, upset, anger and sadness but I do believe they got me through those early days.
We transferred to Glasgow children’s hospital @ 14 days old as luca was an extremely complex cardiac boy. 4 weeks later I remember praying to get back to NICU ninewells so we were closer to home. We eventually got back (felt like a lifetime) and from there we got home at the end of October. From the nurses, to the doctors to the consultants I give my absolute admiration for the job you did with my boy and the job you continue to do every single day."
Luca
Rorie
"Our daughter Rorie was admitted to NICU after being born at 35 weeks old on 05/10/2021. We were extremely lucky that NICU staff were on hand and provided the essential care our daughter required upon her arrival into the world.
NICU staff were there at the birth, and introduced themselves, explaining exactly why they were there and what they would do. This made my husband and I feel more safe and comfortable from the outset in an anxious and worrying situation. Upon our daughter’s arrival, we were lucky to hold her and have some skin to skin before she required respiratory support via a ventilator. When treatment was required, everything was explained thoroughly which we found extremely reassuring, we knew Rorie was in safe hands.
I was unable to visit Rorie at first due to having a Caesarean section, however my husband was welcomed into the unit. He and the staff relayed all the information to me, ensuring I was fully informed while I was recovering. Once I was able to visit Rorie, the nurses, doctors and advanced neonatal practitioners were nothing short of amazing. They made us feel at home, explained any updates or changes to Rorie’s care fully and made us feel like no question we asked was too silly. No matter how busy staff were, they always had time for us. We would always be greeted with a smile in a calm, warm manner and soon felt the unit was a home from home.
Not only was the medical care Rorie received outstanding, but the pastoral care Rorie, my husband and I received was also first class - from helping me breastfeed, to building our confidence in enabling my husband and I to hold our daughter and building up a stronger bond as a family during this challenging time.
Fortunately, Rorie’s health progressed as her needs were met continually by all, eventually allowing us to care for her in ‘Transitional Care’ before taking her home, where support continued through the NICU Community Care team. We are forever grateful to all staff in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and feel extremely lucky to have fantastic specialist care like this available here in Dundee. Our beautiful daughter continues to flourish and this is only possible due to the hard work and dedication of the staff in NICU. Thank you!"
"From my perspective as a dad, NICU was a surprising experience. I had an idea of NICU as being very stressful and a scary environment. When truth be told it is the complete opposite. Considering the seriousness of the situations that are take place within the ward, I found it an almost peaceful place to be. The ward is absolutely fit for purpose and has a real personal touch for families visiting the ward.
The staff cannot be spoken about highly enough. They were on hand to answer any questions myself or my wife had and could translate it into a way I could understand. Again there is a real personal touch from the staff in the ward, always asking how you are and making conversation to help you feel at ease. A special job carried about by special people, they are a credit to their families.
When we moved into transitional care the staff really helped us develop a routine we were comfortable with and one we could gain confidence from when returning home. Their care for Rorie from the moment she entered the ward to the moment we left cannot be faulted whatsoever and I will be forever grateful."
NICU staff were there at the birth, and introduced themselves, explaining exactly why they were there and what they would do. This made my husband and I feel more safe and comfortable from the outset in an anxious and worrying situation. Upon our daughter’s arrival, we were lucky to hold her and have some skin to skin before she required respiratory support via a ventilator. When treatment was required, everything was explained thoroughly which we found extremely reassuring, we knew Rorie was in safe hands.
I was unable to visit Rorie at first due to having a Caesarean section, however my husband was welcomed into the unit. He and the staff relayed all the information to me, ensuring I was fully informed while I was recovering. Once I was able to visit Rorie, the nurses, doctors and advanced neonatal practitioners were nothing short of amazing. They made us feel at home, explained any updates or changes to Rorie’s care fully and made us feel like no question we asked was too silly. No matter how busy staff were, they always had time for us. We would always be greeted with a smile in a calm, warm manner and soon felt the unit was a home from home.
Not only was the medical care Rorie received outstanding, but the pastoral care Rorie, my husband and I received was also first class - from helping me breastfeed, to building our confidence in enabling my husband and I to hold our daughter and building up a stronger bond as a family during this challenging time.
Fortunately, Rorie’s health progressed as her needs were met continually by all, eventually allowing us to care for her in ‘Transitional Care’ before taking her home, where support continued through the NICU Community Care team. We are forever grateful to all staff in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and feel extremely lucky to have fantastic specialist care like this available here in Dundee. Our beautiful daughter continues to flourish and this is only possible due to the hard work and dedication of the staff in NICU. Thank you!"
"From my perspective as a dad, NICU was a surprising experience. I had an idea of NICU as being very stressful and a scary environment. When truth be told it is the complete opposite. Considering the seriousness of the situations that are take place within the ward, I found it an almost peaceful place to be. The ward is absolutely fit for purpose and has a real personal touch for families visiting the ward.
The staff cannot be spoken about highly enough. They were on hand to answer any questions myself or my wife had and could translate it into a way I could understand. Again there is a real personal touch from the staff in the ward, always asking how you are and making conversation to help you feel at ease. A special job carried about by special people, they are a credit to their families.
When we moved into transitional care the staff really helped us develop a routine we were comfortable with and one we could gain confidence from when returning home. Their care for Rorie from the moment she entered the ward to the moment we left cannot be faulted whatsoever and I will be forever grateful."
Rorie
Mia
"Mia was due 15th May 2016, but made her appearance on 6th March (Mother’s Day). She spent 10 weeks in NICU, finally coming home three days after her due date and on her Dads birthday.
The first week was very touch and go, but the amazing team saved our girl. Dr Shetty Bhushan was her consultant, I will always remember how kind and supportive he was towards us and our family when visiting. All of the doctors, nurses, HCA’s, admin staff and domestic staff really do go above and beyond for each baby and every family member.
Mia is 4 now, at nursery and thriving. She came home on oxygen and was visited by Tanya but it wasn’t long before she was able to be without it. Other than mild asthma she has no health concerns and has hit every milestone on time. She is my hero. I struggled with her prematurity and didn’t want to have a child ‘labelled’ as being born premature but I couldn’t be prouder of her journey."
The first week was very touch and go, but the amazing team saved our girl. Dr Shetty Bhushan was her consultant, I will always remember how kind and supportive he was towards us and our family when visiting. All of the doctors, nurses, HCA’s, admin staff and domestic staff really do go above and beyond for each baby and every family member.
Mia is 4 now, at nursery and thriving. She came home on oxygen and was visited by Tanya but it wasn’t long before she was able to be without it. Other than mild asthma she has no health concerns and has hit every milestone on time. She is my hero. I struggled with her prematurity and didn’t want to have a child ‘labelled’ as being born premature but I couldn’t be prouder of her journey."
Mia
James
"James was born at exactly 2 weeks early after a pretty long labour, my waters ruptured 35 hours before James was born, anything over 24 hours is risk for infection. He was nothing short of perfection, our little purple bundle of all that was good in the world. I had my hour skin to skin and we showed him off to his grandparents. Grant gave him his first feed and I went off to surgery.
After surgery I got some more cuddles, ate the best toast ever. and showed him off to the rest of our family, video calls only, obviously. Shortly after this the nightshift midwife came to see if we needed anything and noticed James had a bit of a gargle and said she just wanted to get the doctors to check him over, she was sure it was nothing. The doctors came, who were patient and excellent, they told us that James would have to go down to the NICU for scans and a little help with his breathing.
As soon as I was able, Grant and I got taken down to see him. Walking in and seeing him there, hooked up to machines and tubes was the scariest experience ever but the nurses and consultants put us totally at ease. The next few days were tough, James seemed to always have something. James had suspected sepsis and they queried meningitis. Doctor Wefers explained everything so well, James was part of the surf on clinical trial, he had lumbar punctures and x rays and pulled out his cannula so many times the nurses and doctors couldn’t keep up - sorry they even made make do splints to keep them in longer than a shift. They taught us how to tube feed him and soothe him when we couldn’t hold him and helped us with every possible thing.
I must admit walking into the unit to see him in a cot with only his feeding tube was the best and most emotional feeling in the world. James was only in the NICU + transitional care for a week but it was the longest and scariest week of our lives. I cannot thank and praise the staff in NICU Ninewells enough, they truly are the most incredible, patient, kind, caring, truly wonderful people and absolutely made for their jobs. He was referred back to the baby doctors for having long term jaundice and they got us all sorted with a diagnosis and what to look out for.
He is now 4 months and rolling about, trying to push up to sit, climbs out of baths and takes steps when he’s up on his feet, he smiles, laughs and tells all these stories and feeds like a man on a mission, he’s still super long at 66cm and weighs about 15lbs. Our perfect wee wean."
After surgery I got some more cuddles, ate the best toast ever. and showed him off to the rest of our family, video calls only, obviously. Shortly after this the nightshift midwife came to see if we needed anything and noticed James had a bit of a gargle and said she just wanted to get the doctors to check him over, she was sure it was nothing. The doctors came, who were patient and excellent, they told us that James would have to go down to the NICU for scans and a little help with his breathing.
As soon as I was able, Grant and I got taken down to see him. Walking in and seeing him there, hooked up to machines and tubes was the scariest experience ever but the nurses and consultants put us totally at ease. The next few days were tough, James seemed to always have something. James had suspected sepsis and they queried meningitis. Doctor Wefers explained everything so well, James was part of the surf on clinical trial, he had lumbar punctures and x rays and pulled out his cannula so many times the nurses and doctors couldn’t keep up - sorry they even made make do splints to keep them in longer than a shift. They taught us how to tube feed him and soothe him when we couldn’t hold him and helped us with every possible thing.
I must admit walking into the unit to see him in a cot with only his feeding tube was the best and most emotional feeling in the world. James was only in the NICU + transitional care for a week but it was the longest and scariest week of our lives. I cannot thank and praise the staff in NICU Ninewells enough, they truly are the most incredible, patient, kind, caring, truly wonderful people and absolutely made for their jobs. He was referred back to the baby doctors for having long term jaundice and they got us all sorted with a diagnosis and what to look out for.
He is now 4 months and rolling about, trying to push up to sit, climbs out of baths and takes steps when he’s up on his feet, he smiles, laughs and tells all these stories and feeds like a man on a mission, he’s still super long at 66cm and weighs about 15lbs. Our perfect wee wean."
James
Isla & Hannah
Isla and Hannah were born 5 years ago yesterday 6 weeks early and look at them now.
Isla & Hannah
