'Our baby had emergency surgery after birth - now we're giving back to Ronald McDonald house for their help'
Baby Benjamin needed emergency surgery at just 24 hours old - now his parents are repaying their gratitude for the help of Ronald McDonald House.
A mum-of-two from the Ribble Valley is marking her baby’s first birthday with a special yoga class to raise money for the charity which supported her family through a ‘nightmare situation’.
During her pregnancy with her second child Benjamin, Katie Mellor Snaith was told that after giving birth, he would potentially need lifesaving surgery within 24 hours. Not only that, but the critical operation would also need to take place at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital - over an hour away from their home in Whalley.
Yoga teacher Katie, 36, said: “The news hit us hard. I’d dreamt of having a homebirth, my first birth having been midwife-led and uncomplicated. Once the initial shock passed, my husband Ed and I started to think about the logistics of the situation. Where would we stay? How could we support each other and still look after Esme, our then four-year-old daughter, when we needed to be by Benjamin’s side?”
That’s where Ronald McDonald House Charities UK stepped in. The Charity provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation and support for families with children in hospital.
The 65-bedroom Ronald McDonald House Manchester provides free accommodation to the families of children being treated at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and St Mary’s Neonatal Unit. The accommodation is located just moments away from the hospital, allowing families to stay as close as possible to their sick child. Last year, the House accommodated 579 families who stayed for an average of 28 nights. It has communal areas such as lounges, kitchens, laundry facilities and a playroom, as well as a beautiful outdoor space and a rooftop Garden of Reflection. Every bedroom has a telephone directly linked to the children’s wards.
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Katie, who specialises in pregnancy and post-natal yoga, gave birth to Benjamin on July 3, 2024. Shortly after his arrival, doctors confirmed he needed emergency surgery for a condition known as ‘TOF’ (oesophageal atresia and tracheo-oesophageal fistula), a rare birth defect that affects the tube through which food passes from the mouth to the stomach.
Katie said: “Benjamin got rushed straight to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and one of the nurses referred us for accommodation at the Ronald McDonald House. Within four days, we were given a room. Initially, I’d no idea what to expect and felt nervous about the prospect of being away from home and having to use shared facilities with other families. However, as soon as I got there, I was overwhelmed by how lovely it was. Our bedroom was homely and comfortable, and all the shared spaces were immaculate. I could tell immediately that it was well looked after by wonderful, compassionate staff, who made us feel so welcome.”
Months in hospital
Benjamin’s surgery went to plan, but he contracted a virus in hospital, which extended his admission by two months. In the meantime, Esme started school and Ed, a Project Director for a property development company, had to go back to work, but the Ronald McDonald House enabled the family to spend precious time together at weekends.
Katie said: “The House became a second home, where we could be together during the hardest time of our lives. “We ended up being there for three months, while Benjamin was in NICU, then another three weeks in March this year when he had another admission to the Children's Hospital. We will be forever grateful for this amazing charity.”
Thank you
As a ‘thank you’ for the support they received, on Wednesday, July 2, Katie will teach an online ‘Big Yoga Class’, poignantly taking place the day before Benjamin's first birthday.
She said: “The class is suitable for beginners, so everyone is welcome! I’ve asked for a suggested donation of £10 – but participants are free to donate whatever they can. Having set an initial fundraising target of £3,500, I’m absolutely thrilled to have exceeded that amount, with donations amounting to more than £6,500, which is just incredible!”
You can book a place on The Big Yoga Class here and donate via Katie’s fundraising page: www.justgiving.com/page/benjamins-first-birthday.
Natasha Swindell, Community Fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, said: “It was a privilege to provide a ‘home away from home’ for Katie, Ed and Esme while little Benjamin was in hospital. Keeping families together and close to their sick child is what we’ll all about. We love Katie’s idea for a virtual yoga class, and the number of sign-ups and funds raised so far is just phenomenal! We thank Katie sincerely for her efforts and wish her all the best for a brilliant class. We’re so pleased that Benjamin is now home and well, and that the family can look forward to celebrating his first birthday together after such a difficult time.”
To find out more about Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, visit: www.rmhc.org.uk.