A couple's weekend getaway became an almost three-week stay after their son was born three-months early.
Paul Farrow and his pregnant wife, Sarah, were enjoying a weekend away in London three months before the arrival of their son.
But their romantic trip took a traumatic turn when Sarah developed a pain in her stomach – resulting in an 18 day stay in the city, with only the clothes they had packed.
With three months until her due date, Sarah suspected that she was experiencing braxton hicks, but a check-up at the hospital revealed that she was in fact 4cm dilated.
Paul, 37, said: “On the morning we were planning an open top bus tour before we were due to return home, but we decided to get a check up as a precaution.
“It was a shock when we found out that Sarah was 4cm dialated. We had nothing with us and didn't even own half of the stuff we needed for his arrival, as there was still three months to go until the due date.”
Baby Brandon was born 270 miles away from his home in Durham, weighing just 3lb 4oz.
The tiny newborn was whisked away to be ventilated by the neonatal doctors, and at three days old he was transferred to the Royal London Hospital for surgery on a suspected perforated bowel.
In this time, the family was housed by the Sick Children’s Trust, who offer accommodation to the parents of sick children.
At three weeks old, he was finally transferred to the University Hospital of North Durham by The Children’s Air Ambulance, where he spent the next five weeks before being discharged on July 21.
Paul adds: “Getting Brandon home quicker by air ambulance definitely made a difference. It would have been difficult to take a longer journey by road, particularly if he needed additional care in that time.
“The shorter journey eliminated any potential risks.”
Brandon is now nine months old and Paul explains that his son is going “from strength to strength”.
Now, Paul is on a mission to thank the Children's Air Ambulance for his son's safe arrival home by fundraising £2,000 for the charity.
His target totals around half of the cost for Brandon’s journey home from London to Durham via helicopter.
And he will be raising the money through a series of fitness challenges, including the Yorkshire three peaks challenge and the Durham City 10k to help him reach his target.
Paul, who has been training between seven and 10 hours a week, has been documenting his efforts on social media, with regular updates on Instagram.
He has also set up a Just Giving page, where people can donate towards his fundraiser.
