A Critical Care Nurse at Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI) is taking on a nighttime climb of Mount Snowdon to raise funds for DBTH Charity’s Serenity Appeal, supporting families experiencing baby loss.
For more than 26 years, Maura Stevenson, a Sister in the Department of Critical Care at DRI, has dedicated herself to caring for patients across the Trust.
Reflecting on her nursing journey, she said: “I first started on Ward B5 at Bassetlaw Hospital in 2000 as a Healthcare Assistant. In 2008, after qualifying as a Nurse through the University of Derby, I joined the Department of Critical Care at Doncaster Royal Infirmary and have been there ever since.”
Before beginning her nursing career, Maura experienced the devastating loss of two children. In 1995 her daughter, Danica, passed away at just 24 hours old and, three years later, her son Sam sadly died at five days old, both at Chesterfield Royal Hospital.
She said: “It was an incredibly difficult time for me, but the support I received from the nursing teams who cared for me was invaluable and ultimately inspired me to consider a career in nursing.
“When I had my babies, I couldn’t spend much time with them. So often I’ve wished I’d had a little longer to hold them, talk to them, and share those moments with family members who didn’t have the chance to meet them.”
In memory of Danica and Sam, Maura will climb Mount Snowdon on Friday 30 May to raise money for the Serenity Appeal, which supports maternity bereavement services across DBTH and helps families through some of the most difficult moments imaginable.
Over the years, Maura has taken on a number of fundraising challenges, including a 20-mile walk in Bakewell for Breast Cancer Now and a walk from Sheffield to Doncaster for Firefly, a charity which provides free transport for cancer patients travelling to and from appointments.
Explaining why she chose Snowdon for her latest venture, Maura said: “I wanted to take on a new challenge. I thought, what could be better than climbing Snowdon at night to watch the beautiful Welsh sunrise?
“The reason I have chosen to raise funds for DBTH Charity is simply because I love my job and the people I work with. The Trust has supported me so much over the years.
“There is no greater pain than losing a child. Helping families have the time they need with their babies is so important to me.
“I just want to show my gratitude to everyone who has helped me and give something back in memory of my little ones.”
In 2002, Maura gave birth to her son Billy at Bassetlaw Hospital. Born with several serious health issues, Billy received specialist support from the paediatric team.
Today, Billy is a healthy 23-year-old – something Maura credits to the care and dedication of the teams who supported him.
She added: “Thank you will never be enough.”
Maura has set an initial fundraising target of £750.
Sarah Dunning, Fundraising Manager for DBTH Charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Maura for supporting the Serenity Appeal.
“Funds raised have previously helped provide projects such as the Serenity Suite at Doncaster Royal Infirmary – a dedicated space offering comfort, privacy and dignity for families experiencing the loss of a baby.
“The appeal also helps provide memory keepsakes, sibling support resources and other meaningful items that support families during an incredibly emotional time.
“Every enhancement funded through the appeal is centred around helping families spend precious time together with comfort, privacy and dignity. We’ll all be cheering Maura on during her Snowdon challenge.”
To support Maura’s fundraising for the Serenity Appeal, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/maura-stevenson?utm_medium=CF&utm_source=CL
