Sonia Teles with Peter Fosse of Jersey Post, Stephanie Teles (11), Sonia Teles, Ian Carr of Jersey Post and Lynne Carr of the special care baby unit. Picture by Rob Currie (00670080)

A LITTLE boy who was given vital support by staff at the Hospital’s special care baby unit returned there to celebrate his second birthday.

Kevin Teles, the son of Sonia and Alvaro Teles, has brittle bone disease and is still receiving treatment in Southampton.

Last year Jersey Post nominated the special care baby unit as their chosen charity and staff raised £7,525, which is going towards upgrading essential equipment used by the emergency transportation unit when babies are flown to the UK for treatment.

Because Kevin, who is making good progress, has benefited from that service and support from the unit, he and his mother and sister Stephanie (11) were invited there on Kevin’s birthday to mark Jersey Post’s fund-raising efforts. Kevin was presented with a birthday cake made in Jersey Post’s canteen, as well as some clothes, a soft toy and a book.

Mrs Teles said that the unit’s staff had given her son a great deal of care when he faced difficulties following his birth. ‘They looked after Kevin so well, and he has also had wonderful treatment in Southampton, where he knows the nurses,’ she said.

Jersey Post staff came up with a range of innovative ideas to raise funds, including the raffling of a senior manager’s reserved car parking space and a life-sized cut-out figure of football celebrity David Beckham. Added to that, staff donated an hour of their salary and organised a concert at Bar Rock.

Postal business managing director Ian Carr said that they were delighted to have raised this amount for such a worthy cause.

‘Our staff put every effort into this project and were no doubt motivated by the knowledge that the funds would be used to help babies and small children needing medical care in the UK,’ he said.

Anne Patterson of the special care baby unit said that it meant a great deal to the staff and families they helped that so many people had given their time to raise funds in this way.

‘The funds will go towards a vital part of our work, ensuring that babies born with difficulties who need emergency treatment in the UK receive the best care,’ she said.