A caring cop is aiming to thank the hospital which saved the life of her newborn child by fundraising for a centre which will support other families at their time of need.

Detective Inspector Vicky Lee is determined to repay Birmingham Women’s Hospital for the kindness and care she received following the premature birth of her young son Connor - by collecting cash for its Woodland House project.

Vicky was warned her little boy may not survive after suffering a problematic pregnancy due to him being a growth-restricted baby. He was born prematurely following an emergency C-section after doctors advised his weight, which was just 3Ib at the time, was dropping.

But thanks to the support of staff, Connor pulled through and is now a fit and healthy six-year-old boy. 

Vicky, who is part of WMP’s Public Protection Unit, wants to show her gratitude to everyone at Birmingham Women’s Hospital. This has seen her become an ambassador for the Woodland House fundraising appeal to help others who don’t receive such a positive outcome.

The hospital cares for more than 2,000 grieving mums and dads who have lost a child each year and wants to create a centre where families can digest their devastating news; and spend time together away from the hustle and bustle of daily activity.

Vicky has been joined by colleagues, from the Sandwell and Dudley child abuse investigations team, in planning their own fundraising drive towards the £3.5 million project. 

This includes putting their resilience - and baking skills - to the test with activities including a sponsored assault course, cake sale and black tie ball being planned over the coming months. Vicky, aged 37 from Birmingham, said:

"I had a problematic pregnancy six years ago and my little boy Connor was born prematurely. He was cared for on the neonatal unit and I owe everything to the staff there for the treatment they gave me at such a vulnerable time. 

"When they told me my little boy might not survive because he was so small I was terrified. I waited on a ward with lots of other families having their healthy babies until I was called for theatre and remained there post op. 

"This was really hard listening to other babies cry and watching parents and relatives excited to see the arrival of their baby. Inside this increased my anxiety and I cried a lot. 

"I am lucky that my brave little boy survived and was well cared for by hospital staff. However if he hadn’t survived and I had remained on that ward with no baby I would have been devastated. 

"It would have haunted me for ever and Woodland House will spare others having such an experience during a devastating time. I have received lots of support from colleagues who want to get involved and help such a worthy cause, so hopefully we can raise as much money as possible to help this project come to fruition."