Finley celebrates first birthday after tough start

Finley Clark, who was born 10 weeks prematurely on September 26 last year, was so small he fitted in the palms of his dad Phil, a self-employed model maker.

But thanks to the neonatal team at the University Hospital of North Durham (UHND), where he spent the first seven-and-a-half weeks of his life, Finley is thriving.

To say thank you, the Clark family, who live near Durham, has now raised more than £1,000 which will be donated to the hospital for a new family room for its neonatal ward.

Finley, who is one today, is now thriving after his difficult start

Mum Allison Clark said: “The care they gave him was so amazing and without them these miracle babies wouldn’t be here. They show so much dedication to these little babies.

“They give them so much love and give so much support to families, it’s unbelievable. We still go back so they can see Finley.

“We’ll never be able to thank them properly so we want to raise money to give them a little something back.”

After going into premature labour 10 weeks early, Finley was born weighing just 3lb 6oz.

Finley Clark, from Durham Gate, near Spennymoor, spent the first weeks of his life at the University Hospital of North Durham after being born 10 months prematurely

Supported by friends and family, Mr and Mrs Clark, along with Finley’s brother Ben, 10, spent much of the next weeks at UHND’s neonatal ward.

Due to his lungs being so immature, after three days he started suffering short periods when he could not breath and had to be put on a breathing support system and heart monitor.

And because he was so tiny, he could only be fed a few millilitres of milk at a time, by using a nasal tube and syringe to give him expressed breast milk.

After initially losing some weight, he gradually started putting on between 20g and 30g every few days and was eventually allowed to go home on November 12.

Despite being readmitted to the hospital on numerous occasions, Finley is now doing well.

Finley Clark has celebrated his first birthday

Mrs Clark added: “He’s such a character and such a happy baby. Our little miracle.

“When we came out of the neonatal ward we had nine admissions back to hospital and it’s been quite a tough journey for him. He’s been through a lot but he’s a fighter

“We’re very, very proud of him. He’s starting to say words and he’s trying to crawl.”

Their experience made them decide to raise money for the hospital, and Mr and Mrs Clark, along with four friends, set out to do a 15 miles walk along Hadrian’s Wall earlier this month.

After completing 13 miles, they had to call it a day but are returning to complete the walk in October.

They have so fair raised about £1,200, which will help create a “home-from-home” family room at UHND.

Mrs Clark said: “While Finley I was there, I lived there. I was there morning and night.

“We want to create a really nice family room so it’s a home-from-home for families.

“We’d like to thank everyone for their support.”

To read more about Finley's story or to donate to the fund, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/finleyswallwalk.