Reti’s Volunteering Journey!
Reti is a big Archie supporter and a member of the Aberdeen Neonatal Committee! After her son was born and spent some time in the Neonatal Unit (you can read the incredible story here), all she wanted to do was give back to Archie!
Reit has recently become a volunteer within the unit and wanted to share her experience with everyone.
“Volunteering in the neonatal unit is an incredibly rewarding and meaningful experience. My journey to this role started after our little boy spent time in the neonatal unit in 2022. Once I found out how much of what my baby and us as parents relied on in the unit is provided by the Archie Foundation, I knew I had to do something to give back.”
“My own experience was the driving force behind joining the Neonatal Committee and becoming an Archie volunteer. It’s an opportunity to give back to a place that once held our world together during an incredibly challenging time. And I know I am not alone – for many parents who have had a baby in the neonatal unit, the experience leaves a lasting impact, filled with emotions ranging from fear and uncertainty to relief and hope. Returning to the neonatal unit as a volunteer has allowed me to use those feelings, and the wisdom gained from them, to support others who are going through similar circumstances.”
“As a peer support volunteer, I offer families an opportunity to connect with someone who understands the journey they are on, who has felt the same anxieties and come through the other side. Furthermore, I can help look after siblings, even if it’s to give parents twenty minutes together with their baby. From personal experience I know how stressful it can be trying to manage your time with older siblings and a baby in the neonatal unit, often it leaves parents splitting their time and taking turns. I always make sure to bring colouring books and stickers with me to provide a quick activity if required. Additionally, I make sure that the families I connect with know of support available to them, whether financial such as the Young Patients Family Fund or that they know who and where to turn to when they want to process their feelings and emotions in more depth, for example with the help of the Archie counsellors working in the unit.”
“My support aims to offer a comforting presence for new parents facing the emotional rollercoaster of the NICU and to help them know they aren’t alone, and that it’s okay to feel anxious or scared — sharing my own experience, while respecting the uniqueness of their journey, can provide immense comfort and hope.”
“Becoming a neonatal unit volunteer after having had my own baby there has allowed me to transform a difficult experience into one of compassion and service. It has been healing, while offering me a chance to reflect on my own journey and find closure through helping others. I want all neonatal families to know that while the road is hard, they are not walking it alone.”
If you are interested in becoming an Archie volunteer, please email hello@archie.org
