In May 2022, Elsie was born extremely prematurely. Her father Chris says: “Debi’s pregnancy was classified as high-risk due to her family’s medical history.” At 23 weeks, Debi lost her mucus plug and began leaking amniotic fluid. Their worst fears were realised when her waters broke and an infection developed, requiring immediate delivery. Elsie was born at just 23 weeks and 5 days, weighing 600 grams, with little hope for survival. 

"We were told several times that we could lose her. At one point, we were told the chances of her surviving were one in 1,000," recalls Chris.

Every day was filled with uncertainty as Elsie faced one serious complication after another. At just 10 days old, she needed emergency surgery after her stomach was perforated by a feeding tube. She suffered from chronic lung disease as her tiny lungs were severely underdeveloped, heart complications and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) that required eye surgery.

For more than seven months, the NICU became Debi and Chris’ world as Elsie fought to survive. While life outside the hospital carried on, theirs felt as though it had stopped with birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions passing them by.

But, then, at 4pm on Christmas Eve, after 211 days in hospital, their wish was granted. Elsie was well enough to go home. It was the moment Debi and Chris had hardly dared to hope for. But the impact of Elsie’s early birth did not end there.

For years Elsie needed 24-hour oxygen support and had to be tube-fed. Today, Elsie is walking and talking – precious milestones that Debi and Chris were once told she might never reach – but her health remains fragile. Since coming home she has been hospitalised eight times for viruses and respiratory infections due to adrenal insufficiency which makes her vulnerable to illness. She also still faces challenges with her development.

"Even something as ordinary as taking her to meet Father Christmas was simply too risky because of the germs she could be exposed to," explains Chris.

Each year, around 55,000 babies are born prematurely in the UK – and sadly, more than 1,000 babies die each year after being born too soon. 

Action Medical Research is supporting a research team at University College London who are developing an innovative antimicrobial therapy that aims to boost the body’s natural defences against infection. If successful, this could ultimately help prevent preterm labour in women at high risk of giving birth too soon – improving survival and quality of life for their babies.

Speaking about the importance of research into premature birth, Chris says: “Having come through this, it’s now important to us to do anything we can do to prevent this happening to others in future. That’s why research to prevent premature birth means so much to us. It plays a big part in the outcomes for those involved.”