Santa helps make magical memories with the tiniest patients in the Ulster Hospital's Neonatal Unit
Santa Claus and his trusty elf paid a seasonal visit to some of the tiniest and most precious patients in the Neonatal Unit at the Ulster Hospital, just in time for Christmas.
As well as the festive visit, the dedicated team in the Unit crafted beautiful Christmas stockings, packed with handmade keepsakes including a bespoke ‘Mistletoes’ tree decoration for parents and baby, to be gifted to each family spending time on the ward over the holidays.
As new mum Amy Pollock was gifted a specially knitted Christmas hat for her beautiful baby boy Henry and story book, she shared how happy she and Henry’s dad Kyle were to have their most precious of gifts.
"Henry arrived early and he is just the best gift we could ever ask for. We knew we were having a baby boy. Henry is named after myself and Kyle’s grandfathers as his middle name is Douglas. It is very special that Henry is here and we are just so happy he has received his very first visit from Santa!”
From Lisburn, mum Rebecca and dad Kyle were also celebrating the birth of their daughter Klara who was contentedly snuggled against her mum when Santa gifted the baby girl her very own knitted Elf hat.
Mum Mayra and dad Manuel Noailles-Rostagno, were also delighted their daughter Sofia, born on December 11, had a chance to meet Santa with big sister, five-year-old Corina.
South Eastern Trust, Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist, Lorraine Shaw added how a Santa visit means so much to the parents and siblings in the unit.
"We have been carrying out our Santa visits for a number of years now, after feedback from our parents who said, after leaving the unit, that a Santa visit would make a big difference. Santa has been visiting the babies and mum and dad are able to have those photos that they might not otherwise have got while they are here,” said Lorraine.
"We have been gifting mum and dad a book for their baby and some chocolates, reading is something that we really want to promote in the Neonatal Unit. The neonatal nurses here are really fantastic at celebrating events such as Christmas and making it special in an otherwise really challenging time when they are spending time in hospital over Christmas.”