A story of care across teams and hospitals
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You and Michael received care across multiple teams, including obstetrics, neonatal and paediatrics. What stood out to you most?
Two things stood out above all else. First, the people. From the moment we arrived, the doctors, nurses, and staff cared for us with such genuine love and tenderness—and they still do, even now, six years later.
Second, the family integrated care programme at Queen Charlottes & Chelsea Hospital was truly exceptional. As parents, we became partners in Michael’s care alongside the medical teams, and we feel this made all the difference in helping our son survive.
You were first transferred in utero from St Mary’s to Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea. How were you supported through such a high-risk situation?
Clinically, I felt completely reassured I knew I was in the very best hands. From the first examination, there was an incredible level of focus and attention on us. I’ll never forget when Dr. Sabrina Das gently confirmed that we would be delivering our son at just 24 weeks. She was so intentional in how she spoke to us—from the calm cadence of her voice, the neutrality of her tone, and the way she clearly walked us through what to expect.
Because we trusted the team so completely—both their expertise and their care—it gave us the mental and emotional space to hold onto hope, even in the most uncertain moments.
What would you say to other parents going through similar situations at our hospitals?
I would tell them: trust God, trust your intuition, and trust the team. We found these three anchors really helped steady us. You’re not alone, and there is more strength and grace available to you than you can imagine right now.
Ashley"From the moment we arrived, the doctors, nurses, and staff cared for us with such genuine love and tenderness—and they still do, even now, six years later."
Is there anything you want to say to the teams who were part of Michael’s story?
Now I’m crying. Even six years on, I can’t think about them without tears welling up. There are simply no words that can truly capture the depth of love and gratitude we feel for the teams at Imperial College Healthcare.
I’ve tried to express my thanks in the acknowledgments at the back of the book and to address several of them personally, but I worry my words still fall short. Our family loves you, prays for you, and will be forever indebted to you. When we look into Michael’s eyes, we see you. Thank you.
What motivated you to turn your experience into a book?
I never imagined I would write a book—it never even crossed my mind to document our experience. But then the idea came to me during prayer and when I sat down to write, the story poured out of me effortlessly!
Michael has already overcome so much in his young life. How is he doing today, and how has his journey shaped you as a mother?
Michael is six and a half years old now. He is happy and deeply loved. We moved out of London to be closer to a highly specialist school for complex speech and language disorders, which he attends. It took us years to better understand the lasting effects of his prematurity and intensive care treatments—and honestly, we still don’t know all of them.
But in the words of Dr. Sunit Godambe, who spoke to us when we were struggling to understand Michael’s additional needs and hopes for his future: “He already won. He lived. Now let him have fun.”
As for how this journey has shaped me as a mother, it’s a balancing act of holding two seemingly conflicting truths at once. I need to be hypervigilant—attentive to his needs, support, and care—while simultaneously surrendering to whatever his future may hold.
Even now, six and a half years on, we live like every single day is a gift. We hold Michael and his sister tight, tell them we love them about a hundred times a day, and try not to sweat the small stuff.
A bit about our family integrated care programme
Our family integrated care programme empowers parents to take an active role in caring for their premature baby during their time on NICU. Parents are guided through essential tasks such as feeding – using syringes and tubes – and changing nappies. They are also taught to understand key monitoring indicators, including blood oxygen saturation levels. Importantly, parents are invited to join the consultant’s morning ward rounds, where they participate in discussions about their baby’s care and progress.
A bit about the hospitals who cared for Ashley and Michael
Ashley and Michael were cared for across both St Mary’s and Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospitals. St Mary’s is part of West London Children’s Healthcare, which brings together services for children and young people at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
