Courtney’s Story
World Prematurity Day is coming up on November 17th and the theme this year is ‘a strong start for a hopeful future’. At PKC, we are sharing stories from our community in the lead up including preemie babies, our wonderful knitters and supporters.
Courtney is the Founder of Premmie Knitting Club.
What does World Prematurity Day mean to you and your family?
Courtney: The day provides an opportunity for me to stop and think about the life saving medical support I received and I always approach it with gratitude for the doctors, nurses and medical professionals working in neonatal medicine. I think my story is pretty well documented but for those reading this for the first time, I was a preemie baby myself and was born at 29 weeks, my parents and I spent over three months in the NICU. Now that I'm a parent myself, I also find myself increasingly reflecting on the experience for my parents, it must've been a really tough start as first time parents and I'll always be very thankful for their sacrifice and dedication. The day also provides as opportunity to recognise and say thanks to everyone in our PKC community, we couldn't do this without our knitters and supporters and people like my mum who helps to sort our knitting donations.
Courtney and her parents. Her lovely mum Michelle is a volunteer board member for PKC too 🥰
Why did you begin Premmie Knitting Club?
Courtney: I started PKC in 2016 as a way do something practical for NICU's across Aeoteroa, through a work friend I had heard there was lots of knitting wanting to help and lots of need for knitted items and I wanted to make the process easier for everyone involved so I started organising people to knit and I would collect donations and deliver them to the hospitals, it's grown from there over the years and we will be celebrating 10 years next year! Aside from the knitting and fundraising we do, it's very cool to reflect on our amazing supporters and volunteers, I feel lucky to have such close friendships with so many of you in our PKC community!
In 1990, Courtney was born at 29 weeks. Her family spent over three months in the NICU.
Have you kept your knits from the NICU?
Courtney: I'm in my mid 30's so things were a bit different in 1990 and I don't think they provided knitting like they do now! My mum's Aunty actually made lots of my clothes from dolls patterns as I was only just two pounds when I arrived. I have kept lots of those items and my mum was great at documenting our journey so I have lots of photos and keepsakes.
