A colleague at the University of Nottingham is raising money for the QMC Neonatal ward through the sale of her book — The Waiting Game (The truth about a premature baby).

Jen Buck has worked for the University for the past 20 years and currently works as an Assistant Hall Manager at Lincoln Hall. Her book, described as a cross between “a diary and a self help book”, describes her experience of having two premature babies and has been written to help raise premature awareness, as well as provide help to parents who have had a premature baby.

Jen said: “Both my sons were born premature; my son Alex was born at 34 weeks (3lb 8oz) and Harry was born at 30 weeks (2lb 3oz).

“Harry has mild Cerebral Palsy as he had a bleed on the brain when he was born and has needed years of physio to be able to walk and carry out a normal life which has been more than a full-time job! On the 14 February 2019 I opened a bottle of prosecco to celebrate Valentine’s Day like many other people but on this occasion, it was extra special as a box of books were delivered to me. The books were my own book which I had written — called the ‘The Waiting Game’ (The truth about a premature baby).

“The book takes you on the incredible journey of my two sons. It covers from pregnancy, to birth and the early years up to five years old of my son Harry (who is 6 years old now) and also covers some of my son Alex’s life. The book takes you on a roller coaster of emotions of how I dealt with every stage of my son Harry’s life.”

Copies of the book are priced £5. All profit will be donated to Nottingham Hospitals Charity – QMC and City Neonatal units, to help fund lifesaving equipment.

If you are interested in buying a copy of the book, please email jenny.buck@nottingham.ac.uk or call into Lincoln Hall on a Thursday or Friday.