Parents launch new business inspired by their premature daughter

After their daughter's premature birth at 22 weeks, one couple in Scotland was inspired to start a business designed to help other families and their premature infants.

Key Takeaways:

• Baby Hope Fernie was born prematurely at just 22 weeks.

• After a four-month hospital stay, she was able to go home with her family.

• Her parents were inspired to start a business, Hope's Tiny Tapes, to sell personalized surgical tape often used for oxygen tubing.

• Some of the proceeds of their new business have gone to help the hospital that cared for Hope.

The Details:

Hope Fernie was born unexpectedly at just 22 weeks gestation, weighing a mere 1.1 pounds at birth. What followed was an extended four-month stay in the hospital, as she battled health challenges related to her early arrival.

During Hope's hospital stay, surgical tape was used to keep an oxygen tube secured to her face. Her parents, Shannon and Gary, were inspired to create tape that would feel more personalized and creative than the standard hospital-issued tape.

The couple started Hope's Tiny Tapes, where they sell custom and personalized surgical tape for tiny infants, while honoring their daughter.

Zoom In:

"We have turned a traumatic experience into a beautiful, rewarding business," the couple wrote on their website. "We are very passionate about what we do."

Some of the proceeds of their new business have been donated to the hospital that cared for Hope.

“Bringing her home was a moment we had dreamed about for months. Starting Hope’s Tiny Tapes is our way of giving something back and helping support the unit that cared for our daughter during the most challenging time of our lives,” explained Shannon.

The Bottom Line:

On their website, the couple note that doctors initially said Hope wouldn't make it. Shannon says her daughter's survival is "a miracle."

“When Hope was born, we didn’t know what the future would hold. Every day felt like a milestone, and every small step forward was a reason to celebrate,” Shannon told Fife Today. “The support we received from neonatal teams in Glasgow and at Victoria Hospital was incredible, and we’ll always be grateful for everything they did for Hope and our family.”