When Pat Keeley’s daughter Natalie was born at just 26 weeks and weighing just 900g (1lb 15oz) little did she know then that it would be the catalyst for a new career in the NHS.
Pat started working life in financial management for BT and while there went into labour with Natalie who was to become the smallest baby born at Ormskirk Hospital.
After a week in hospital Pat was allowed home but Natalie, ventilated and losing weight, was transferred to the Special Care Baby Unit at Fazakerley Hospital (now Aintree). She remained in hospital for more than three months before finally being allowed home weighing four pounds.
The whole experience was a major turning point in Pat’s life for more reasons than one.
She said: “Natalie’s birth was the catalyst for my and indeed her NHS journey.
“I knew I needed to change career and after being inspired by the amazing care and dedication from all the NHS staff I decided to train to be a nurse and started my training in 1990 when Natalie was just 2 years old.
“After qualifying I worked my way up the ranks and became a Matron at Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals before moving into operational management at St Helens and Knowsley in 2006 and the rest is history for me, but not the end of the story.
“Natalie went on to have a varied career, including working in the airline industry in cabin crew. She then started working at St Helens and Knowsley as a Clerk in Gastro, but after having her own son decided she needed a career and is about to qualify as an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) and will shortly be starting working for the Trust in that role.
“It seems in many ways like the cycle has continued. I have always been forever grateful to the NHS for saving Natalie when she was so small and I am so happy that she is now set for a career helping others.
“I couldn’t be prouder of her. Here’s to the next generation.’’