'Excited' parents get engaged at neonatal unit

Bruno Ulmkalns proposed to Kirstie Stanton on what was Penelope's original due date

The parents of a baby born 13 weeks early have two reasons to celebrate after getting engaged in a hospital's neonatal unit.

Baby Penelope was transferred to the Leicester Royal Infirmary's specialist unit after contracting necrotising enterocolitis, a condition that causes tissue in the intestine to inflame and start to die.

Bruno Ulmkalns popped the question to Kirstie Stanton while they were visiting their daughter on the ward.

The couple, who are from Tamworth in Staffordshire, got engaged on Thursday, which was Penelope's original due date.

She weighed just 2lb 2oz (0.96kg) at the time of her birth, and is still being treated at the hospital.

'About time'

Ms Stanton said she had her daughter in her arms when Mr Ulmkalns got down on one knee.

"All of the nurses were so excited, and everyone made a fuss - they said they'd never seen an engagement on the unit before.

"I had hoped for it and dropped a hint or two to Bruno, so it was about time," she said.

Penelope was transferred to the hospital in Infirmary Square from the University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire.

Jonathan Cusack, consultant neonatologist and clinical director for women's and children's services at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said necrotising enterocolitis was a life-threatening condition requiring complex treatment.

"It is impossible to overstate the impact that having a pre-term baby can have on families, and Penelope, like many pre-term babies, has been through so much in her short life.

"The whole team are delighted to hear Kirstie and Bruno's news," he said.