'Charity gave sanctuary when baby needed us most'

The parents of a baby boy who needed intensive care treatment have thanked a charity for giving them accommodation near the hospital, saying it made a "massive difference".

Riley was diagnosed with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and rhinovirus in November when he was five weeks old.

His parents, Lauren and Sam Auckland, both 27, were given accommodation near Sheffield Children's Hospital by The Sick Children's Trust while he received treatment.

Mrs Auckland, from Barnsley, said: "You don't think you'll be able to sleep at all, but you do need to get some rest so you can help and make good decisions for your child."

Riley initially started displaying mild, cold-like symptoms one night, and was admitted to Barnsley Hospital the next morning as his condition worsened.

After an X-ray revealed that he had a partial lung collapse, he had to be transferred to Sheffield Children's Hospital and intubated.

"It's not something you expect to happen, the fact he was going to be in Sheffield was scary in itself, you just have a million worries," Mrs Auckland said.

However, she was then asked by a nurse if the couple needed somewhere to stay, and were given the keys to Magnolia House by The Sick Children's Trust.

It has shared facilities for cooking and cleaning, but the couple were given a room to themselves.

Mrs Auckland said it meant they had a quiet space away from the stress of the hospital.

"You can't help how much you'll worry about your child, but having all the practical stuff taken care of makes a massive difference."

She said she suffered from seizures, so it was reassuring that her husband was able to stay nearby, even during periods when he was not allowed to stay in the hospital itself.

The accommodation also has a children's playroom, which was used by the couple's older son, two-year-old Sami, during visits.

The couple were allowed to stay for as long as they needed, which turned out to be 12 nights, before Riley was discharged.

He is still recovering from the illness, but his mum said that he was "so much better than he was - he's quite chunky actually, and he's such a happy baby".

She said The Sick Children's Trust had given them "a genuine sanctuary, at the worst time in our lives".

"We will always be grateful to them for keeping us close to Riley when he needed us most."

The charity, which also runs homes in London, Cambridge, Leeds and Newcastle, said it sought to "not only alleviate financial worries but also help the mental wellbeing" of families.

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