Our Story

The story behind Darcies Hospital Hugs 💕

Hi, I'm Molly, the mum behind Darcies Hospital Hugs.

I'm a single mum to my two beautiful girls, Darcie and her big sister Lexi, who is 6 years old. Darcies Hospital Hugs was born from our family's own experience of hospital, and from a journey that changed all of our lives forever.

Finding out about Darcie

Our story really began at my 12-week scan.

I went into that appointment expecting to see my baby and leave feeling excited about the pregnancy. Instead, I was told that something wasn't quite right.

I was told that Darcie had gastroschisis.

I remember being sat down and having so many questions, but having absolutely no idea what to expect. I'd never heard of gastroschisis before. Suddenly, my pregnancy was filled with appointments, consultants, scans and conversations about what would happen when my baby was born.

I attended many of those appointments on my own.

I had to sit with consultants, listen to information that I didn't always fully understand and make decisions about my baby's care while feeling completely terrified.

I was trying to be strong, but inside I was scared.

The day Darcie arrived

Darcie was born prematurely at 33 weeks. I was booked in for a C-Section. I was admitted the night before to give me steroids due to her being premature and a magnesium drip. 

From the moment she was born, everything became a whirlwind of doctors, nurses, neonatal care and surgery. Darcie needed surgery just hours after she was born because of her gastroschisis. Whilst I was in my C-Section still, she was whisked off and blue lighted in an ambulance to Birmingham Childrens Hospital. It broke my heart I couldnt be with her. 

What followed then was a 106-day hospital stay.

There were good days, difficult days and days where we simply took things hour by hour.

But throughout all of this, I wasn't just Darcie's mum.

I was also Lexi's mum.

Lexi was little too, and I wanted to make sure that despite everything happening, she still had some sense of normality and routine in her life.

Lexi stayed with my mum so that she could continue with her normal routine while I spent as much time as possible with Darcie in hospital.

I genuinely couldn't have got through that time without my mum.

Knowing Lexi was safe, loved and being looked after allowed me to concentrate on Darcie when I needed to be at her bedside. My mum was there for us in a way I will never be able to properly put into words.

When everything changed

Darcie's hospital journey became even more complicated.

She needed further surgery to repair problems that had been discovered with her bowel. Following her second surgery which she had at 6 weeks old, Darcie developed necrotising fasciitis, a serious and life-threatening infection.

What happened next was something I will never forget.

Darcie became critically unwell and suffered a respiratory arrest.

She needed to be sedated and ventilated in PICU for two weeks, and I was told by a Dr ''Your baby is very very poorly'' a day I'll never forget.

Plastic surgeons became involved because of the extent of the damage caused by the infection, and Darcie needed multiple procedures and surgeries.

Watching your child being so critically ill is something that changes you forever.

I spent those weeks terrified and feeling a feeling I had never felt before.

There were moments when I didn't know what the outcome was going to be. I had to sit beside my tiny daughter while she was sedated and ventilated, surrounded by machines, knowing just how seriously ill she was.

The impact it had on me

People often talk about how strong parents are during situations like this.

And yes, you find a strength you didn't know you had.

But that doesn't mean it doesn't affect you.

My mental health took a real hit, and still probably has to some extent. Everyone tells you 'oh shes fine now' 'but she got through it' and yes, she did. But the images of seeing your baby so poorly and critical dont just disapear. 

The fear, the uncertainty, the constant hospital environment and everything that happened to Darcie stayed with me long after we left the hospital.

I experienced moments that were incredibly difficult to process, and still are. The hospital journey didn't simply end when we finally got to take Darcie home.

It became part of our story.

Why Darcie's story matters

Darcie eventually came home after 106 days in hospital, but our journey didn't end there. We still have lots of follow ups and lots of appointments.

She has been through more in her little life than most people could ever imagine, and she still carries the scars from everything she has experienced.

Her story has changed the way I see hospital stays forever.

I know what it feels like to walk into a hospital not knowing what is going to happen.

I know what it feels like to sit in appointments alone, frightened and overwhelmed.

I know what it feels like to spend day after day beside your child's hospital bed.

And I know what it feels like to leave hospital carrying memories that don't simply disappear when you walk through your front door.

Darcies Hospital Hugs was born from that experience.

Not because I want other families to experience what we did, but because I understand how much a little kindness can mean when you're going through something incredibly difficult.

This is Darcie's story.

A story of fear, strength, resilience, love and survival.

And it is the reason I want to use our experience to help other families feel a little less alone.

Because no parent should have to feel like they're facing a hospital journey completely on their own.

💕 This is our story. This is Darcie. And this is where Darcies Hospital Hugs began.