Hannah is hoping her book will make a difference and help others

A Sunderland mum has launched a book she wrote and illustrated to help other families through the experience when their baby needs neonatal care.

- by Neil Fatkin

The launch day featuring artist Hannah, Neonatal team members, Tiny Lives, STSCharity and the Literacy Trust.

Author and illustrator Hannah Graham has created Looking Through the Plastic to help parents and siblings when they need the support of specialist care for their new arrival.

It has been launched at Sunderland Royal Hospital, where Hannah and husband Mark, a pharmacist with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust (STSFT), spent time following the arrival of their son Peter in 2018.

Peter arrived three months early and spent up until the time he was due in its care.

The first 500 books have been bought by the charity Tiny Lives, with those to be split between Sunderland Royal Hospital and Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI).

It will be added to packs which will be given to the brothers and sisters of babies in their units.

At Sunderland, once its share has been gifted, the Trust's STS Charity will support gift packs which will include a copy alongside other items.

The charity, which is the dedicated charity of STSFT, oversees the Mini Miracles fund, which supports the unit.

Hannah was approached about the project by the Northern Neonatal Network, which is known as Nornet.

It gives specialist and intensive neonatal care to babies born in the North East and Cumbria across 10 units.

It is hoped the book will help include siblings in the neonatal journey, which can be a difficult time where they may struggle to feel involved.