A MUM whose baby spent two months in the Neonatal unit at the Salisbury Hospital has shared her experience about what it was like and how the Stars Appeal helped her and her family.

Hayley Howell’s son Fletcher was born 11 weeks early in October 2022 and Hayley and her partner David Hart were able to stay in the Stars Appeal’s accommodation for parents while Fletcher was in the hospital.

Read more: Fifth blue plaque celebrating women unveiled 

Hayley 34, from Amesbury, said: “We spent just over two months in the Neonatal Unit and stayed in the parents’ accommodation.

"We kept saying we completely understand if we need to go but there was never any question about us having to go."

“It was comforting for me having David there,” adds Hayley, who later moved into one of the Stars Appeal’s mum and baby rooms after Fletcher’s condition improved where she says it was “nice to be by your baby’s side the whole time”.

The Stars Appeal has six mother and baby rooms in addition to four larger ensuite family rooms which enables mums the chance to stay if needed.

Read more: More repairs needed for the Poultry Cross

Hayley will be a part of a group of 15 people taking part in the Walk for Wards event as she wanted to be able to ‘give back’ for all the support they received when Fletcher was in the hospital.

Hayley admitted that she had found going into the Neonatal Unit scary at first, but the staff made her feel comfortable and were helpful and kept her going.

She said: “The nurses and everybody on the unit were fantastic. We nearly lost Fletcher a couple of weeks after he was born. He got a common cold and where he was so little, it stopped him from breathing. I was there on my own and remember the staff comforting me. They were so caring about us as parents as well as looking after our baby.”

The Stars Appeal which is Salisbury District Hospital’s charity provides support for parents to help ease the stress and that can include free aromatherapy sessions and live musicians who play lullabies to babies.

Hayley said: These activities do the world of good for mums on the unit. It is something good to look forward to. The little extras are amazing.

“Fletcher is my miracle baby. To lose him was unthinkable as it took us so long to conceive him. He is my world.”

The Walk for Wards event is on Sunday, July 9 at Wilton House.

To participate, register at The Stars Appeal website.