North Essex Boy Donates To Baby Unit

4 March 2010, 09:19 | Updated: 4 March 2010, 09:31

For the second consecutive year a doting brother has donated £30 of his Christmas money to the Colchester hospital unit that saved his toddler half-sister’s life.

Eleven-year-old Kristian Williams also wrote a letter to the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Colchester General Hospital.

In it, he said: “Once again, I would like to donate some of my Christmas money to the SCBU for saving Lily’s life when she was born . . . Lily makes us all laugh, even when she turns my games console off!”

Kristian, a pupil at The Colne Community School and College, Brightlingsea, also sent SCBU staff three photographs, including one of Lily taken on her first birthday on 7 November last year.

When giving birth to her, their mother, Becky Munson, 37, experienced shoulder dystocia (when the baby’s head is born but its shoulders are stuck inside the mother’s pelvis).

Lily, who weighed 8lb 13oz, was not breathing when she was born and was rushed to the SCBU but, fortunately, was well enough to go home after just two days, and is now a thriving 16-month-old.

Mrs Munson said: “Kristian said before Christmas that he again wanted to donate some of his Christmas money to the SCBU, and this year he also gave £20 to the Haiti Earthquake Appeal.

“He continues to be a doting brother, and is always playing with Lily and helping to feed her – and when I’m in the bath, he’ll even change her nappy!”

Kristian, who lives at Crestlands, Alresford, was born a month early at a hospital in Basingstoke but, fortunately, did not need special care.

Karen Moss, SCBU Sister, said: “All the staff here think that Kristian really is a very special boy, and would like to thank him again for his outstanding generosity and thoughtfulness.”

The SCBU has 18 cots and 32 staff, caring for more than 500 babies a year from all over north east Essex who are born either prematurely or who need specialised care after delivery.