A couple were so grateful for the special care shown to their son Ellis who was born nearly 10 weeks prematurely that they arranged a charity ball in Snodland to raise funds for the Oliver Fisher baby care unit.

Gemma Goldup gave birth to Ellis on August 25, via emergency Caesarian section, after doctors detected Ellis was showing reduced movement.

Ellis was kept on oxygen for nine days and Miss Goldup and her partner Lyndon Pilcher were not allowed to hold him for a week.

He spent a month in the Oliver Fisher unit at Medway Hospital until he was allowed home, but he is now faring extremely well and doing everything he should be for his age.

Miss Goldup said: “If it wasn’t for them, Ellis wouldn’t be here today. They did an outstanding job with him and we wanted to do something for them.

“The staff at Oliver Fisher work miracles and everyone can see that they build a special bond with the babies in the unit.

“This is our way of saying thank you, because words are never enough."

Miss Goldup, an administration manager at KCC, and Mr Pilcher, an electrician for Mears, both 25, invited family and friends to a ball last night at the Snodland Community Centre in Paddlesworth Road. The evening raised £1,021.

Miss Goldup said: “I am overwhelmed; it is far more than we imagined.”