Posted on: 19 Jan 2021
Mum-of-eight Nichola Allen is just one of Nottingham’s brave participants in a charity skydive to raise money for the city’s NHS hospitals.
The Nottingham Hospitals Charity tandem skydive takes place on Saturday 15th May 2021, at Langar Airfield in Nottinghamshire – and places are still available for all those feeling brave enough! Participants can raise money for their chosen area of City Hospital, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham Children’s Hospital or Ropewalk House.
Nichola, from Broxtowe, is raising money for the Neonatal Unit. After having seven sons, Nichola and husband Tony welcomed their first baby girl on 23rd July 2019. After a complicated pregnancy, including mum Nichola being hospitalised, baby Nova Allen was born over eight weeks premature and had to be taken straight to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Queen’s Medical Centre.
Mum Nichola said: “After having seven normal births, it was scary seeing our baby with all these tubes in her, and not being able to hold her, feed her or even change her. I struggled to cope and I felt like the worst parent ever.”
After being moved briefly to King’s Mill Hospital, Nova returned to the QMC Neonatal Unit and was allowed home two weeks later.
Nichola said: “The staff at both hospitals are amazing and nothing is too much trouble. When Nova was discharged one of the nurses actually got a hug off me – and I’m not usually a hugger! The doors are always open for parents.”
After a week at home, Nova was rushed back into the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) when she needed resuscitating at home.
Nichola said: “After a tricky start, she is now a thriving one-year-old, with her own cheeky personality. We will all be forever in debt to the Neonatal Unit and PICU, so that’s why I decided to take on this skydive – to thank them for all they have done for us. I’ve always wanted to do a skydive, and this is a great opportunity to finally do it!”
The Allen family have been fundraising in various ways over recent months, including husband Tony dressing as Father Christmas for socially distanced visits over the festive period.
For more information or to sign up to the skydive on 15th May, please click here.
To sponsor Nichola, please click here.