Sheffield mum says thanks with skydive to help hospital team who cared for premature daughter

The mother of a girl born 10 weeks early will jump out of a plane to raise money for the Sheffield health team that helped her family.
The Randall family: Jenna, Russell, Eethyn, Marley and Isabella, from Shiregreen, SheffieldThe Randall family: Jenna, Russell, Eethyn, Marley and Isabella, from Shiregreen, Sheffield
The Randall family: Jenna, Russell, Eethyn, Marley and Isabella, from Shiregreen, Sheffield

Jenna Randall’s daughter Isabella weighed just 3lb 12oz when she was born in November. She spent nearly two months in the Jessop Wing neonatal intensive care unit at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital before finally going home to her family on December 29.

Jenna, 26, from Shiregreen, now wants to say thank you to the nurses, doctors, consultants and support workers who worked so hard to keep her daughter alive.

Isabella Randall, from Shiregreen, Sheffield, was born 10 weeks early.Isabella Randall, from Shiregreen, Sheffield, was born 10 weeks early.
Isabella Randall, from Shiregreen, Sheffield, was born 10 weeks early.
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She said: “I’m doing a skydive as I want to thank everyone on the neonatal unit.

“Sisters Julie and Erica and Demi and Bridgette, our nurses, along with Nicola, who was our support worker are absolute gems. I had some very emotional tough days and to some staff it was so much more than a job. I’ll be forever grateful to every single person.

“The entire time Isabella was there I was so scared every time I wasn’t with her. When my phone rang I feared the worst. It was like living in real-life hell. So I’m determined to give something back.

“I have never done a skydive before. I’ve always thought I’d like to do one, but I was scared, but now I am doing it for Sheffield Hospitals Charity, I know it’s worth the fear.

Isabella Randall, from Shiregreen, Sheffield, was born 10 weeks early.Isabella Randall, from Shiregreen, Sheffield, was born 10 weeks early.
Isabella Randall, from Shiregreen, Sheffield, was born 10 weeks early.
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“If I can raise money to buy one more machine or anything that helps, then I’m already on the right track to give back to the people who are the reason I have my little girl sat next to me right now.”

Jenna described what happened with Isabella as ‘every parent’s nightmare’.

“My partner Russell was by my side all the way and he could see the fear in my face, but he reassured me,” she said.

“But nothing could have prepared me for seeing my precious baby so small hooked up to all the machines. My emotions got the better of me and I cried. I was so scared to touch her.

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“The pain of knowing I couldn’t hold her was unbearable. It was the most difficult time of my life.”

But the family made it through and Isabella is now enjoying a happy home life with her parents and brothers Eethyn, six, and Marley, four.

Jenna will do her skydive on June 19. You can sponsor her at www.justgiving.com/jenna-randall1. To find out more about taking part in your own skydive for Sheffield Hospitals Charity call 0114 271 1351.