VIDEO: A very special reason for running our On Your Marks race

Frankie should have been born on September 29, but decided to come early after complications with Sam’s pregnancy, arriving on August 23.

“He came at 34 weeks, and he was more poorly than expected,” said Sam, 27, of Greenriggs. “He had septicaemia, respiratory problems, jaundice and problems feeding.

“It was frightening, scary, petrifying. You just can’t prepare yourself for how you’ll feel.

“I couldn’t hold him until he was five days old and that was awful, I couldn’t do all the things that a mum should be doing.

“But because the staff are so good it all soon becomes normal and routine. The staff make you feel so comfortable and at home, and get you involved in caring for your baby.”

The couple could have stayed at the hospital but decided that because they lived in Luton, space should go to families from further afield. So their days were spent travelling to and from the L&D, while also finding time to look after their elder son, three-year-old Freddie, and, in Joe’s case, working early shifts at his job at Thomson at Luton Airport.

“It was very hard,” said Joe. “We were constantly driving up and down to the hospital for three weeks. When Frankie was born I was able to hold him for about five seconds before I had to pass him to the doctors.”

And it wasn’t just the staff who got the couple through the traumatic period, says Sam.

“We’re very lucky that friends and family were able to help us look after Freddie, and Joe’s company was very good,” she said.

The couple were staggered at the standard of care provided at the NICU, which is currently being expanded to provide life-saving care for even more poorly babies, and needs to raise £1.5 million to equip the new cots.

“It’s amazing – the staff, the facilities, everything in there is just wonderful,” said Sam. “They’re very strict about infection control so everything is brand new. And they’re so busy all the time, they just don’t stop.”

So when Sam and Joe saw an opportunity to get involved with fundraising for the NICU, they didn’t hesitate. On Sunday October 16 the whole family will take place in our On Your Marks race for the NICU, and they’ve already raised nearly £700.

“We wanted to do something to say thank you,” said Sam. “No amount of money will ever repay them for what they have done for us but if we can give a little something back it would help.

“We looked into the cost of a night’s stay at the NICU and it was about £1,200, so Frankie’s treatment cost more than £21,000.

“Also, children aren’t allowed in the NICU for hygiene reasons so it didn’t feel like we were together as a family until we got him home. So we thought it would be good to involve Freddie and do the race as a family, as a nice end to our story.”

Inspired by Frankie’s laid-back nature, the family will be running in ‘Frankie Says Relax’ T-shirts, which have been provided by friend Ami O’Kane, who runs Fit For A Star dancewear and fancy dress at the Olde Watermill shopping village at Barton.

You can sponsor the Findlays by going to www.justgiving.com/sam-findlay

And there are still places available for On Your Marks, but entries close on Friday (October 7). To register, go to www.ldh.nhs.uk/race