Beads of Courage scheme launches at Heartlands Hospital

Today, a special new scheme has launched on the Neonatal Unit at Heartlands Hospital. The 'Beads of Courage' scheme, funded by Heartlands Hospital Charity, will see newborn babies receive a bead for each milestone that they pass whilst on the unit.

The first bead that the babies receive will be a 'happy birthday' bead, marking the day that they are born, a parent bead in the form of a heart, and their initials. Further down the line, babies will be given beads such as sunflowers for when they receive phototherapy (light therapy), one to mark 100 days on the unit, coming off oxygen for the first time or having their first feed.

Baby Neveah Meade received her beads today, Neveah was born at 30 weeks, weighing just over 2lbs. Her mum, Jade (pictured), has been on the unit for three weeks with Neveah and was delighted to receive the beads.

Sian Averill, Fundraising Manager at Heartlands Hospital Charity, said: "This scheme is part of the Family Integrated Care Programme that the Charity is funding. This programme is aiming to get parents and siblings more involved in the baby's care."

Heartlands Hospital Charity is currently fundraising to bring new, state-of-the-art incubators to the Neonatal Unit. Find out more and make a donation here.