A 26-year-old mother of two will be skydiving to raise money for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where both of her sons received treatment. 

Emily Bayley, based in Stoke-on-Trent, will be jumping from 13,000 ft as a fundraiser for the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust's (UHNM) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Royal Stoke University Hospital. 

Emily's two sons, four-year-old Tommy and two-year-old Carter both suffered from complications during and after birth, which meant they each spent time either in the NICU or on the ward with Emily receiving treatment from NICU doctors. 

Emily said: "The NICU staff were just absolutely fabulous and now I am fully recovered and back to the fittest version of myself, I just want to give back. 

"I have always wanted to do something for charity and skydiving has always been on my bucket list, so I thought what better way to do it really?" 

Four-year-old Tommy spent 19 days in hospital receiving treatment from NICU doctors (images via Emily Bayley)

During labour with her eldest son, Emily developed chorioamnionitis and sepsis, which led to an emergency caesarean and a further surgery a week later to clear the infection. 

When Tommy was born, it was discovered that he had also developed sepsis and was additionally diagnosed with a rare condition called symbrachydactyly (upper limb difference).

Tommy spent 19 days in the hospital with Emily receiving specialist care from NICU doctors but is now "thriving as a crazy four-year-old". 

Emily's younger son, Carter, who is now the "cheekiest, most clever little 2-year-old" also had a difficult start to life after being born prematurely at 35 weeks via another emergency caesarean. 

He then spent 2 weeks in the NICU on CPAP & oxygen therapy and antibiotics, before returning home and receiving weekly home visits from NICU nurses. 

Two-year-old carter spent 2 weeks in the NICU (images via Emily Bayley)

Emily said: "When I went in with my second child, a lot of the NICU nurses actually remembered me and the care they gave was second to none. 

"There was one midwife that looked after me when I was really poorly with Tommy and sge actually looked after me again when I had Carter, so going back and seeing them all again is so special. 

"They treated me like family really." 

Emily will be completing the tandem skydive on 1 November. 

She added: "Both of the children are coming to see it happen and Tommy is obsessed with aeroplanes so he will be absolutely thrilled to see me jumping out of one!" 

Donations can be made on Emily's GoFundMe page, where all donations will go directly to supporting the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.