Ironman challenge in sight for fundraising journalist whose daughter was born premature

Ironman challenge in sight for fundraising journalist whose daughter was born premature

04 September 2017

Mark Nicol, Defence Correspondent at the Mail on Sunday, will swap the newsroom for the tough terrain of the Ironman challenge to repay the neonatal team who brought little Isabella safely into the world.

Mark’s wife Zoe spent more than a fortnight in hospital before doctors eventually removed baby Isabella by caesarean at 32 weeks and five days.

She weighed only five lbs at birth and lost more weight during her first few days, requiring breathing assistance through a gas mask.

Mark was so impressed by the care and compassion shown by the staff that he decided to give back to the hospital by raising money for Imperial Health Charity at the Ironman Wales event on 10 September.

The gruelling challenge begins with a 2.4-mile sea swim followed by a 112-mile bike ride and rounded off with a full marathon on foot. Avoiding injuries, Mark expects to complete the challenge in around 13 hours.

Imperial Health Charity will ensure that all the money Mark raises will be put straight back into improving the hospital experience for other patients visiting the neonatal unit at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea.

“The events I’ve done in the past have been about half this distance, so it has certainly been demanding on the training front,” he said.

“I was always planning to do the Ironman, but I didn’t have a strong feeling about sponsorship until our experience with Isabella. Now I’m full of motivation to give something back to the hospital.”

Isabella was born pre-term by around seven weeks, so her condition had to be carefully managed.

Doctors had managed to extend the pregnancy by about 10 days after Zoe arrived in hospital, giving Isabella the best possible chance of survival.

Both Mark and Zoe were grateful for the professionalism and kindness of the staff who helped them through the birth.

“It was the combination of compassion and professional capability that was so impressive,” Mark added.

“The staff were intelligent, thoughtful and highly communicative, which is incredibly important at a difficult time like that.”

Zoe gave birth to the couple’s first child, Rory, at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea in April 2016, so they knew they were in safe hands despite the complications with Isabella.

Now at one month old Isabella is recovering well, putting on weight and feeding normally.

“It was a hard week for myself and Zoe but it was made so much easier because of the quality of the people who were around us,” Mark added.

“This will be my first full Ironman and obviously my training has been compromised slightly by what has happened, but my motivation is higher than ever.”

If you would like to sponsor Mark, you can visit his fundraising page.