Tony's Story Of Hope, Survival & Gratitude

The Give Big For Little Hearts campaign, a cause we’ll be supporting when we dedicate our game against Southampton to Leicester Hospitals Charity on Saturday, is one that hits close to home for local dad - Tony.

2025-05-01T14:00+01:00

by Admin

Published

01 May, 2025

Tony's Story Of Hope, Survival & Gratitude

The Give Big For Little Hearts campaign, a cause we’ll be supporting when we dedicate our game against Southampton to Leicester Hospitals Charity on Saturday, is one that hits close to home for local dad - Tony.

Admin

2025-05-01T14:00+01:00

Tony's Story Of Hope, Survival & Gratitude

The Give Big For Little Hearts campaign, a cause we’ll be supporting when we dedicate our game against Southampton to Leicester Hospitals Charity on Saturday, is one that hits close to home for local dad - Tony.

Admin

2025-05-01T14:00+01:00

Tony's Story Of Hope, Survival & Gratitude

The Give Big For Little Hearts campaign, a cause we’ll be supporting when we dedicate our game against Southampton to Leicester Hospitals Charity on Saturday, is one that hits close to home for local dad - Tony.

Admin

2025-05-01T14:00+01:00

Tony's Story Of Hope, Survival & Gratitude

The Give Big For Little Hearts campaign, a cause we’ll be supporting when we dedicate our game against Southampton to Leicester Hospitals Charity on Saturday, is one that hits close to home for local dad - Tony.

Admin

2025-05-01T14:00+01:00

Tony’s twins, Isabelle and Jack, were born at just 28 weeks
They were expertly looked after at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
He ran the London Marathon for Leicester Hospitals Charity on Sunday 27 April
Text 10LCFC to 70085 to donate £10 to support Leicester Hospitals Charity

His twins, Isabelle and Jack, were born at just 28 weeks, and their survival - and thriving lives today - was thanks in large parts to the expert care received at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

Now, nearly a decade later, he’s sharing their story to highlight why this appeal matters - and why he's giving back in a big way.

His Family’s Journey

Tony and his wife Nikki went through IVF to have children and were overjoyed to be expecting twins.

But their excitement was quickly replaced by fear when, at just 22 weeks, Nikki’s waters broke. The chances of survival at that stage were slim.

What followed were the most difficult weeks of their lives. Nikki was admitted to hospital and against the odds, made it to 28 weeks. On 12 December 2015, the twins were born via emergency caesarean - tiny, fragile and fighting for every breath.

“Every organ was underdeveloped,” Tony remembers. “Lungs, kidneys, heart, eyes… the doctors were making critical decisions from the second they arrived.”

In those first hours in the NICU, Isabelle was critically ill, surrounded by an expert team of medics.

“It was touch and go,” Tony recalls. “Hearing those words, I felt completely helpless.”

Just five days later, the family received more devastating news - Isabelle had suffered a brain bleed. A consultant sat with them, explained everything clearly, even drew diagrams to help them understand. “It was one of the hardest conversations of my life.”

London Marathon

Now aged ten, Isabelle and Jack are doing brilliantly - but Tony has never forgotten the role the NICU played in their lives.

This year, to mark the twins' 10th birthday, he ran the London Marathon to raise money for Leicester Hospitals Charity.

“Technology has come a long way in the last ten years,” he says. “I want other families to benefit from the best equipment and care possible - just like we did.”

Funds raised through the Club’s support this Saturday will go towards cutting-edge neonatal technology, including a state-of-the-art ultrasound scanner and 4D probe, offering faster and more precise diagnosis for premature and seriously ill babies.

Give Big For Little Hearts

Tony’s story is a powerful reminder of why supporting causes like Leicester Hospitals Charity matters.

Whether it’s running a marathon, donating spare change, or just simply spreading the word - every little act adds up.

“You never forget the people who were there when your world was falling apart,” Tony says.

“Supporting this appeal is my way of saying thank you - and giving other babies the same fighting chance Isabelle and Jack had.”

How You Can Help

For the 2024/25 season, Leicester Hospitals Charity is among one of The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation’s nominated charities, as we help to raise funds for advanced neonatal technology that could help save and improve the lives of premature and seriously ill babies.

Fans can support the appeal by donating to this link, or spare some change to the bucket collectors we’ll have dotted around Filbert Way this weekend.

Additionally, to donate £10 to support Leicester Hospitals Charity ahead of Saturday’s game, you can text 10LCFC to 70085.

Every donation helps give more babies the best possible start in life.

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