Sky's the limit for Laura and Gracie

A family took to the skies and raised nearly £3000 to help purchase equipment for breastfeeding mothers whose children have cleft palates.

Laura Edginton's daughter Gracie is two and a half, and was born with a cleft palate associated with Pierre Robin Sequence. Since she was born in October 2015, the family have attended the Spires Cleft Centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital for her treatment.

Laura was determined to breastfeed Gracie, however found that Gracie's cleft palate meant she had to express her milk rather than nurse her.

"I was so sure I could breastfeed Gracie," said Laura, "that I found it really difficult to accept when I physically couldn't. I had to express my milk to feed her through something called a nasogastric tube, but the pumps to go with them weren't always available - other mums were often using them.

"I was lucky enough to get a pump the morning we took Gracie home, but I realised that there just weren't enough pumps to go around."

Determined for other mums to be able to express their milk, Laura rounded up her family and decided to raise money for more pumps.

"A skydive seemed like a good idea," said Laura, "and soon enough my whole family were on board - Gracie's dad Ben, my dad Mike, Gracie's aunt Amelia, and even Ben's grandmother Barbara!

"We were really nervous before the skydive, but excited too - especially since we knew it would help other babies like Gracie. Once we were in the plane and it started getting higher and higher, the nerves really kicked in - but we were all strapped so tightly to the instructors that we didn't have a choice once they jumped out! Once we were out of the doors it was absolutely amazing - the most incredible thing I've ever done, and such a great experience."

Back on the ground, the family's £2850 went towards 12 breast pumps through Spires Smiles, a local charity made up of local parents and patients to support people who have a cleft palate. The pumps now have pride of place in Spires Cleft Centre in the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Laura said: "Gracie's treatment at Spires Cleft Centre has been fantastic. I had a really hard time with everything she has been through and getting my head around it all, and being in and out of hospital for various appointments is not what you expect to happen when you have a baby.

"Jane and her colleagues have been a great support over the last two and a half years, and Mr Swan has done an amazing job with Gracie's palate repair and is so kind and really makes you feel at ease with everything. The whole team really are incredible and I just want everyone to know how great they are, and how much we all appreciate everything they have done and continue to do for Gracie."

Jane Sibley, a nurse at Spires Cleft Centre, said: "We're so grateful to Laura and her family for their huge efforts to get more pumps here.

"It's been a delight treating Gracie, and the fact that these breast pumps will enable many more mums to be able to give their babies their own breast milk is fantastic news - having a baby is stressful enough, but with added complications from something like a cleft palate, it can be very difficult. Anything to make life a little bit easier is always welcome, and we owe Laura a huge thank you."