21 March 2025

A Neonatal nurse who was inspired by the care she received as a premature baby has been reunited with the staff that cared for her.

Caitlin was born at St Mary’s Hospital in Portsmouth in September 1999 at 26 weeks weighing just 1lb and 4.5 ounces. Last week Caitlin visited the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth where the Unit transferred to when St Mary’s closed. Caitlin spent two months in the NICU there before being transferred to Chichester.

The care that Caitlin and her family received when she was born, has inspired Caitlin to go on and care for premature babies herself as a Neonatal Intensive Care nurse in Canada where she now lives.

Caitlin said: “Whilst visiting the UK I desperately wanted to return to the NICU at Portsmouth. It was surreal and so lovely to meet with my doctor Miss Vaithilingam and to tour the NICU and see the similarities and differences between my NICU and theirs.

“Helen, the Charge Nurse worked in St Mary’s when I was there and likely looked after me which is very surreal. The staff were very welcoming and kind, even introducing me to parents and sharing my story, hopefully providing other parents with hope which is something that I like to share with families I care for too. 

Miss Vaithillingaham, Consultant Gynaecologist delivered Caitlin and was delighted to meet her again: “It was wonderful to be reunited with Caitlin after all these years and incredibly heart warming to hear how she has been inspired to pursue a career in neonatal nursing after the support and care we provided her and her family.”

In Canada Caitlin cares for babies born as early as 23 weeks and babies born requiring intensive care. Caitlin added: “I work with babies who are just like I was. I am so grateful for the care I received and I am so fortunate to provide care for other families who are going through what my own family went through when I was born.”