A very special baby

In Spring 2007 1st Steps' fund-raising work was in aid of the Special Care Baby Units at Stoke Mandeville and Queen Charlotte's hospitals. To date over £8,000 has been raised, with some events still in progress.

On 3^rd September 2006 at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Felicity and Stephen's baby Aedhan was born at 24 weeks, weighing just 770g – around 1lb 11oz, after a 17 hour labour. Although he was not breathing by himself, he had a heartbeat throughout, and was intubated after the third attempt.

The future looked very bleak for such a fragile little boy and, once stabilised, he was rushed to Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital, Hammersmith, where he spent the first 5 weeks of his life in the intensive care unit. He was on a ventilator for three days, and CPAP for around 8 weeks. He had two blood transfusions, some antibiotics for a bladder problem and had frequent desats and some bradys.

A day before his mummy’s birthday, he was transferred back to Stoke Mandeville and slowly came off all the monitors, until he was just on an apnoea mattress.

On 10^th December 2006, Aedhan came home, which was before his due date – a big surprise! He spent Christmas and New Year with his family, and became such a hungry boy that breastmilk was not sufficient, and needed formula too. By 10^th February 2007, he was approaching 7lb, and had grown out of loads of clothes! He is smiling, chatting and has even turned himself over a few times! He is behaving like a new baby, has learnt to sleep through the night, and is our little miracle.

The whole family cannot speak highly enough in praise of the work of the staff who saved Aedhan's life at the two hospitals, and the fund-raising work is just a token of appreciation.

1st Steps Line Dancing for Charity

Since 1st Steps started in 2001, Stephanie, Vince and Felicity have worked tirelessly for charity.

Just a few of the highlights:

• £2,000 raised for Macmillan Nurses
• £200 raised selling badges for breast cancer
• Supporting our local Lions fund-raising events
• Feb 2005: An amazing £10,000 raised for Cancer Research
• Spring 2007 (on-going): In aid of Special Care Baby Units at Stoke Mandeville and Queen Charlotte's hospitals - read the story of baby Aedhan

Aims of 1st Steps Line Dance

1st Steps Line Dance classes was started in November 2001 by Stephanie, Vince and Felicity, all enthusiastic dancers. Daytime and evening classes now run in Pinner, Eastcote, Uxbridge and West Drayton (NW London).

Back in 2001, although there were other classes available, Stephanie, Vince and Felicity felt that there was a shortage of local classes for learning those 'Golden Oldie' dances that 'every-one knows'. In particular, 'Absolute Beginners' were not well-catered for. So they decided to fill the gap!

Stephanie, Vince and Felicity don't mind if you're not "step or style perfect". Stephanie regularly tells classes "The style monitors aren't watching". But they are passionate that you should enjoy your dancing and have fun.

Starting out as an Absolute Beginner myself, I had tried to pick up line dancing 'on the floor', and totally failed - despite enthusiastic help from friends who were experienced dancers themselves.

I tried one class, but even though I was assured it was for beginners, it was way beyond me.

1st Steps' Beginners Line Dance classes were just what I needed. The classes start with twenty minutes running through the basic steps, followed by dances to get you started. Vince tells dancers "It can take up to six weeks before your feet listen to your head". There's a walk-through of at least one wall before each dance - and more when it's being taught. And, for beginners, all dances will be 'called' so that you can quickly join in and keep up with everyone else.

After all, no-one wants to go out and pay to feel an idiot because they "can't do it".

These classes are great for people who want to learn line-dancing, and have never danced before. But once you've mastered the Beginner dances, there are Improver and Intermediate classes to progress with.

Line dancing is a fantastic way to keep mind and body toned up. And classes are very friendly; everyone remembers when they started out with "two left feet". As Stephanie says, "If you end up facing the wrong way, wave - and laugh".