Sandbach mum, Jess Brady, has reached for the sky to help the charity which looked after her and her family when her baby was starved at oxygen at birth.

The early years practitioner gave birth to Elliott in March 2024 and the family spent 20 days in hospital at Arrowe Park with baby Elliott, while he received intensive care.

Jess and her partner Jake Atkinson say they can't thank the Ronald McDonald House Charity enough for providing them with support and accommodation so they could stay at their baby's side.

Now Jess, who works at a children's nursery in Holmes Chapel, completed a sponsored skydive here yesterday (Sunday) with her sister, Maddy, to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charity.

Jess said: "What an experience! The skydive was rearranged to 16 Aug due to windy weather but it was well worth waiting for. It was amazing." The sisters have raised £2,091 so far from the skydive but money is still pouring in.

She added: "Unfortunately, our family experienced a very traumatic birth. Elliott was deprived of oxygen either before, during or shortly after birth.

"As a result, he was rushed away immediately for lifesaving medical treatment and placed on a cooling treatment, where a baby is kept in a controlled hypothermic state to help prevent further brain damage.

"Because Elliott was so poorly, he was transferred by blue-light ambulance to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral, where he could receive the specialist care he desperately needed. This is where Ronald McDonald House Charity stepped in.

"My partner arrived at Arrowe Park before I did. He was traumatised, exhausted, frightened and completely alone. From the moment he arrived, the staff at Ronald McDonald House welcomed him with open arms.

"They then provided us with a room to stay in, food, toiletries and, most importantly, a safe place to be together while Elliott fought for his life.

"We stayed at Ronald McDonald House for around 20 days while Elliott received intensive care, and during that time it truly became our home away from home.

"The staff supported us every step of the way during the darkest days imaginable. They were there when we nearly lost our precious baby boy and when we were given the devastating news that Elliott had sustained a severe brain injury called Grade 3 Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy (HIE).

"Ronald McDonald House gave us everything we needed when our whole world came crashing down. It is such a special place for families like ours during the most difficult times of their lives."

Jess added: "Today, Elliott is a thriving, happy two-year-old who continues to defy all the odds. We were told he may never walk, talk or eat independently and would likely rely on us as his carers for the rest of his life.

"I am so proud to say that, thanks to the incredible care he received from the doctors and nurses, Elliott now loves kicking a football, climbing absolutely everything, eating anything he can get his hands on, and chatting away all day long. He amazes us every single day and is living proof that miracles really do happen."

Donations for Jess and Maddy's skydive can be made here

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