A FAMILY has started a public fundraiser to give back to the neonatal unit that saved their premature baby’s life. 

Gino Alessandro Savarese has had a bumpy start, although his mother Stacey Hilling is determined this will not get him down. 

Emerging into the world a fighter, Gino arrived almost seven weeks early. 

Before he could go home to his family home in East Kilbride the baby required stays in Wishaw Hospital’s neonatal intensive care, high dependency care, special care baby unit and transitional care.

Now, 16 weeks later, he is finally home.

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To say thank you, Ms Hilling, 30, and her brother-in-law have decided to do the Edinburgh Kilt Walk on September 15 to raise some money to dedicate directly to those involved in Gino’s care. 

Their Go Fund Me page has almost reached their £200 target. 

As a NHS nurse, Stacey knows how much even the smallest of gestures are so appreciated by those on the wards. 

“We started the fundraiser to make some money to help Gino’s journey home, but also so we can give back to all the nurses who helped us with his care and being in hospital. 

“When I went into labour I had to call my ward to tell them I wouldn’t make it to my shift that day because I was having my baby early. 

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“When Gino was born, he was put straight into an incubator because he was unable to breathe, maintain his body temperature or eat on his own.

“Myself, my partner and our one-year-old son were given a hospital flat so we could stay on the grounds and be with Gino as much as possible. 

"My partner is self-employed, so when Gino was born he was unable to work. Going into labour so early meant we didn’t have a chance to get everything sorted for Gino arriving.

"It’s been really difficult, and he is still not 100 per cent well, but we have him home now and that’s what matters the most.”

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Now Ms Hilling and her family feel it’s only right to give something back. 

“We want to give the nurses back something personally. I work on a ward so I know that if you give the money to the wards it can feel less personal.

“We want to be able to give them a gift that they will appreciate individually, to know how much they helped us with Gino.”