Family taking part in Walk for Ward after hospital saved baby son's life

Friday, 19 May 2023 01:00

A Fordingbridge family is taking part in the Stars Appeal’s Walk for Wards after staff at Salisbury Hospital saved their baby’s life.

Shelley and Chris Perkins’ two-week-old son Taylor was brought into Salisbury District Hospital in October 2022 after suddenly becoming very ill.

When he arrived on the children's ward, his condition soon worsened, and the situation became critical as doctors had to resuscitate baby Taylor, who was later found to have a heart defect that was restricting the blood flow from his heart.

“It was terrifying,” recalls mum Shelley, who says Taylor was so unwell when they arrived on Sarum Children’s Ward.

“Within five or 10 minutes there were over a dozen people working on him. They saved his life.”

Baby Taylor, who is now seven months old, had to go to Southampton for surgery but has since been admitted to the Sarum Ward at Salisbury Hospital several times when he was ill over winter and visits regularly for help with his feeding tube.

Shelley praised the “amazing” Salisbury Hospital staff who treated Taylor and continue to care for him and says that “each time we have been looked after so well and are so grateful to everyone on the ward”.

Donations to the Stars Appeal fund enhancements to the furnishings, décor and artwork on the Sarum Ward along with multi-sensory toys and other play equipment, as well as diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation equipment.

The charity also provides free accommodation for families which include a dedicated parents’ flat and pull-down beds so parents can stay by their child’s bedside in hospital.

Shelley added: “When we were there I was able to stay with him in the beds provided by the Stars Appeal. I don’t know what I would have done without that.”

Taylor is doing well but will have to have more operations in the future.

Speaking about the hospital staff that saved her son’s life, she added: “If they hadn’t have done what they did we wouldn’t be in the position to have Taylor with us anymore.

“We wanted to be able to do something to help other people that might be in our situation.”

This will be the first time Shelley and Chris are taking part in Walk for Wards. They are going to be raising money for Sarum Children’s Ward. To donate go to their JustGiving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/shelley-perkins1

Walk for Wards takes place on Sunday, July 9, at Wilton House. To sign up visit: https://starsappeal.org/event/walk-for-wards

More from Local News

Shops to stay open for 'Festive Shopping' evening

Shops will open until 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 5th, for an evening of festive shopping in Salisbury, the City of the Stars, this Christmas.
A step towards a safer community as Speedwatch group gets underway

Laverstock & Ford Parish Council saw their inaugural Community Speedwatch get underway this month after some initial setbacks.
Trainee teacher takes part in prestigious Lord Mayor’s Show in London to raise awareness of liver disease

A trainee teacher and marathon runner who is waiting for a liver transplant, was a special guest at the Lord Mayor’s Show in London last Saturday, representing the British Liver Trust, the UK’s leading liver health charity.
Residents encouraged to ‘Ask the Leader’ at event in Amesbury

Wiltshire Council is continuing to host its series of community events across the county where people can ask questions to find out more about the work of the council, with the Leader of the Council having visited 16 of Wiltshire’s 18 community areas so far.
Three men arrested in connection with van break-in series

Wiltshire Police have arrested three people in connection with an investigation into thefts from vans across the county, during which thousands of pounds worth of power tools have been stolen.
Wiltshire Council working hard to reduce overspend

Wiltshire Council has provided its second formal update of the 2024/25 financial year, which shows its previously forecasted overspending has reduced significantly.
Wiltshire's recycling collection to change from 2027

Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet has agreed its future approach to collecting recycling when its current contracts to carry out this service come to an end in 2026.
Salisbury based trains fitted with new anti-slip tech

A new initiative between Network Rail and South Western Railway has more than doubled the number of trains treating the railway and keeping the tracks leaf-free this Autumn.