When Wunmi Babalola took her baby into Birmingham Children's Hospital A&E, nothing could have prepared her for what happened. The receptionist took one look at little Kayode and immediately called for a nurse. Upon seeing him herself, the nurse grabbed him into her arms and ran with him through the ward.
Wunmi was left stood, holding her pram, shocked by their actions. Coming to her senses, she started to run too. Kayode had been born three weeks early, weighing 5lb 7oz.
All had been well when they came home from hospital but, within a couple of weeks, Wunmi got the feeling that something wasn't quite right. She took him to her GP but was told not to worry. Returning to her GP a second time, she was advised to take him to A&E if she wasn't happy.
So that's what she did and he was whisked away into intensive care. Read more: Grieving mum's tears for 'perfect son' who never met his little brother "I took him to A&E at the children's hospital and the receptionist came round to see him and immediately called a nurse," said Wunmi from Kings Norton . The nurse took one look at him, grabbed him and ran with him.
It was so scary. I was just left stood with my pram thinking oh my god what's going on? Then I ran too." Over time, tests showed that an infection had led to sepsis, causing a catastrophic brain injury.
"The hospital staff were amazing but it was just bad news after bad news," she explained. "Then we had the news you never want to hear. We were told he wasn't going to survive very long and they were starting end-of-life care.
" Wunmi and her partner Charlie were given a choice over whether they wanted him to stay in the children's hospital or move to Acorns Children's Hospice in Selly Oak , which provides specialist palliative care for babies, children and young people with life limiting and life threatening conditions, and support for their families. They opted for the latter so that their family could be with them. "He lived for nearly three weeks, and that was such precious time with him as the people at Acorns helped us to make memories.
There was a lovely garden, a pool to relax in, they did our washing. cooked our meals, took lots of photos and let us stay in the flat upstairs." Sadly, Kayode died on February 14, 2024 - the couple's anniversary.
He was almost eight-weeks-old. Little Kayode Babalola will always be remembered "He passed away in the early morning in my arms. We were devastated.
It was the worst thing ever, you can't really describe it. We miss him so much, he was loved so much." Acorns continues to support Wunmi and Charlie with a mum's group, reiki and counselling.
Now she is joining thousands of people taking part in Run Solihull on Sunday August 11 in support of the hospice charity. Running 10K in memory of her little boy, she says she’ll ‘probably cry at the beginning, the middle and the end’. "I’m doing it for my beautiful little boy, and for Acorns after their incredible care in looking after him," said Wunmi, who hopes to raise £2,000.
"I thought I would love to give back and to keep Kayode’s memory alive. I do not want the world to forget him. "I want to continue to raise money and do something every year.
There is no footprint too small that it cannot leave an imprint in this world. "I would always say to mums to trust your gut. It's better to be wrong.
If you're wrong, you're wrong and that's ok. I have friends who have had babies around the same time and I say to everyone trust your gut." Acorns needs around £30,000 each day to provide its children’s hospice care, with two thirds of that amount coming from generous donations and fundraising by the local community.
Find out more and make a donation via the Acorns website. The popular Solihull Run, organised by RunThrough, includes a half marathon, a 10k run and, for the first time, a children’s race. In the past year, Acorns has cared for more than 750 children via its three hospices in Birmingham , Walsall and Worcester, and in the community.
It has supported almost 1,000 families, including those who are bereaved..
