A happy couple are engaged to be married, after a proud dad went down on one knee to propose in the neonatal unit (NNU) at the Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI).
Bruno Ulmkalns, father of baby Penelope, popped the question to Kirstie Stanton on Thursday 9 October, which was their daughter’s due date. Penelope, who is Bruno and Kirstie’s first child, was born 13 weeks prematurely, and was transferred to the LRI after developing necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). She is now recovering at the NNU, which is a specialist unit for this potentially life-threatening condition.
NEC is a serious illness in which tissues in the gut become inflamed and start to die, which can cause a hole to develop and the contents of the intestine to leak into the tummy. Surgeons at the NNU have performed two operations to treat tiny Penelope, who was born weighing two pounds two ounces.
Kirstie said: “When Bruno proposed, I had Penelope in my arms. All of the nurses were so excited, and everyone made a fuss. They said they’d never seen an engagement on the unit before.
“Obviously, it was a yes. I had hoped for it and dropped a hint or two to Bruno, so it was about time!
“But Penelope is the star of the show, and the most important thing is that she has had such great care. The team here have been really friendly, and they almost become like your family.
“Until you are in the situation of having a premature baby, you have no idea what they have to do to keep the babies going, and also to keep you going. They are angels in disguise.”
Jonathan Cusack, Consultant Neonatologist and Clinical Director for Women’s and Children’s Services at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said: “The whole team are delighted to hear Kirstie and Bruno’s news. It is impossible to overstate the impact that having a pre-term baby can have on families, and Penelope, like many pre-term babies, has been through so much in her short life.
“It has been a pleasure looking after Penelope and her family and we wish them all the very best for the future.”