So Precious, a charity dedicated to supporting Neonatal, maternity and paediatric care at Forth Valley Royal Hospital has just handed over a £10,000 bundle of gifts. The latest equipment includes two Vapotherm units, and two mamaRoo Chairs for the Children’s Ward.

The Vapotherm units help patients with breathing troubles. This includes newborns with under-developed lungs, children with respiratory infections (e.g. pneumonia) or a chronic disease. Vapotherm therapy provides respiratory support using a nasal cannula rather than a mask covering the face and means babies can sleep and be cuddled. A tiny single-prong cannula is used for the smallest babies.

The mamaRoo seat mimic comforting movements like being rocked or travelling in a car. These are great for babies and toddlers who have already been home and have returned to hospital. The familiar motion helps settle them in the Ward. One of the seats was purchased following a direct donation from MB Lock Tec, responding to a funding appeal at last year’s So Precious Charity Ball.

Pictured at the handover are So Precious trustee, Lorna Blue with her 22 month old son Arran, trustee Lucie Ainsworth and NHS Forth Valley Play Specialist Seonad Hopkins.

Fellow trustee Leigh Ronald is pictured with Susan Milne from the Bereavement Team, donating heart leaves for a memory tree. Hearts are engraved with the baby or child’s name and date of birth and placed on the tree in the Spiritual Care Centre at Forth Valley Royal Hospital for a year before being returned to parents as a keepsake.

Since 2011, So Precious has raised over £275,000 for the Women and Children’s Unit at Forth Valley Royal Hospital.