Hannah George, 35, from Staffordshire, and mum to Dan, 16 months, nominated Stephanie Dewey to win the Inspirational Friendship award, sponsored by Pregnacare, at Mother&Baby’s Big Heart Awards. Here, she reveals why...
‘Stephanie is one of my best friends – we work together and I’ve known her since I started teaching 10 years ago. She was always a great friend but really surpassed herself when my little boy was born.
‘On the night Dan arrived, Steph sent me lots of messages to keep me cheerful after my husband had to leave the hospital, and kept her phone by her bed in case I needed someone to talk to in the middle of the night.
‘When I came home, she also supported me through new-mum wobbles, often babysitting for a few hours so my husband Mike and I could get some sleep.
‘When Dan was eight weeks old, Mike had an epileptic seizure in bed early one morning.
She supported me through new-mum wobbles, often babysitting for a few hours so my husband Mike and I could get some sleep
'It was just before Christmas and Steph had been away visiting family in Cornwall but, when I rang, she dropped everything to look after Dan so I could be at the hospital with Mike.
‘She also helped me come to terms with what had happened and, when Mike had another seizure last year, she again offered to help us in any way she could.
Steph is Dan's godmother now, and I'm so glad that he’ll spend lots of time with her as he grows up. She really is an inspirational friend.’
Find out more about our inspiring Big Heart winners including Against All Odds Baby Noah Wall.