Austin's Story
At Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, we are very grateful to all our corporate partners. They provide incredible support through their fundraising efforts and generous donations, helping us to continue our work in ensuring the best possible care and experience is provided to our hospital families. Families like Emma’s.
Wellworking Together
Emma is an After Sales Manager at Wellworking, who have chosen Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity as their charity partner for 2025. Emma nominated us as her little boy Austin was cared for in the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow.
“Supporting Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity is an opportunity for us to express our gratitude and ensure that other families in need receive the same invaluable support.”
Austin’s Hospital Journey
Austin was born prematurely at 36 weeks, and due to several serious complications, he required specialist and intensive care from teams in Glasgow. He spent 3 weeks in NICU, and the family benefitted from several of our charity-funded services, for which they are extremely grateful.
Now, Austin is doing incredibly well! He is thriving and will turned 1 at the end of February. Emma is so thankful for the amazing NHS staff that saved her little boy’s life.
vCreate
Our charity-funded service, vCreate, allows healthcare professionals to send special video updates to families when they can’t be at their child’s side. We fund vCreate in PICU and NICU at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, as well as the Maternity Units at the Princess Royal and Royal Alexandra Hospitals.
This allowed NICU nurses to send Emma videos and photos of Austin when she wasn’t able to be by his side, providing precious memories and important developments in Austin’s condition.
“Each morning, I would eagerly check my phone for updates. The images and videos, including the first picture of Austin without tubes, and the moment he opened his eyes, provided immeasurable comfort and helped us feel connected during those anxious days”
Miniboos
Miniboos are soft comforter blankets, designed to help babies in NICU feel close to their parents even when they’re apart. Parents are given two Miniboos: one to keep inside the mother’s t-shirt and one for baby to have in their incubator. Every day, the Miniboos are swapped over, allowing babies to be comforted by their mum’s scent.
“Due to Austin’s fragile condition, we were unable to hold him for the first few weeks.
"This simple yet powerful gesture not only offered comfort to Austin but also provided us with a way to bond with him during a time when holding him wasn’t possible."
Emma, Austin's Mum
Even now, Austin enjoys playing with the Miniboos, and they remain a cherished symbol of those early days.”
Little Inky Feet
Little Inky Feet is another charity-funded project to help support and comfort parents of tiny babies in NICU.
The no-mess ink wipes allow for precious prints to be made of the infant’s hands or feet. These are transferred onto a piece of card for their parents to treasure long after they leave the hospital, recognising how far their little one has come, and how much they have grown.
“One of the most treasured mementos we have is a set of footprints from Little Inky Feet. This reminder of Austin’s early days is something we will hold forever.”
Crossbasket House
Emma has also shared her experience of staying in Crossbasket House, providing an invaluable place to eat, sleep and rest just a few minutes away from Austin whilst he was being cared for in NICU.
“When we arrived in Glasgow amidst the overwhelming circumstances, it didn’t even cross our minds where we would stay. Fortunately, the NICU staff had already arranged for us to be accommodated at Crossbasket House, which was an immense relief. Living over two hours away from the hospital, this thoughtful gesture allowed us to remain close to Austin and spend every possible moment with him.
"The warm welcome we received at Crossbasket House was incredibly touching, immediately making us feel at home."
Emma, Austin's Mum
The facility is highly secure, providing a sense of safety and comfort during such a stressful time.
In addition to offering a private room, Crossbasket House also features a spacious kitchen with individual fridge, freezer, cutlery, and cupboard space. This setup allowed us to prepare our own meals, helping us avoid the ongoing cost of dining out.
They also offer an impressive selection of baby clothes, shower essentials, and food, making it even easier for families to focus on what matters most.
We were at Crossbasket House for my first Mother’s Day, and I will always cherish the thoughtful gift we received, completely unexpected and deeply appreciated.”