Photographer Returns to Arrowe Park’s Neonatal Unit 40 Years After Her Own Premature Birth
A professional photographer whose life was saved at Arrowe Park Hospital’s Neonatal Unit returned four decades later to offer free photographs to families in memory of her mum, Pat.
Joanna Bray, age 40, spent the first weeks of her life on the same unit she visited in November. Born several months early at just 25 weeks, following a sudden accident involving her mum, Joanna arrived tiny, fragile and fighting for survival. Family members recall her being “the size of her dad’s palm”, and they have often spoken about the determination she showed from her earliest moments.
Her aunt also passed down a story that has stayed with Joanna all her life. The night before she began breathing independently, doctors were preparing to withdraw support. Her family asked for 24 more hours, and by the following day, Joanna took her first breaths on her own.
Prematurity has deeply affected Joanna’s family. She and her brother Mark both spent time on neonatal units, and her youngest brother, Ben, sadly died shortly after birth on the Neonatal Unit at Arrowe Park. Joanna said these experiences shaped her lifelong respect for neonatal teams.
“Seeing what my family went through makes you appreciate how incredible neonatal staff are,” she said. “They care for babies who need extraordinary support in those first precious days.”
Joanna visited the Neonatal Unit on World Prematurity Day to offer complimentary photo sessions to families. Each received five professional images and access to a secure private gallery. Joanna dedicated the project to her mum, who passed away when she was 16.
“This was all for my mum,” she said. “She was the one who bought me my first camera, back when you had to get them developed at the chemist and come back a couple of weeks later to see if they were any good. Returning to the place where my life began felt like a way of giving something back in her name.”
During her visit, Joanna worked alongside neonatal staff, who supported and supervised cot-side photography sessions to ensure the ward remained calm, safe and focused on families.
Returning to the unit was deeply emotional for Joanna. “When I walked in, I tried to stay composed for the parents who are going through so much. But when I got home, everything hit me, the tiny babies, the machines, the sounds. It made me reflect on my own start and how far life has brought me.”
Joanna discovered her passion for photography in her late teens after taking pictures of babies in her family. What began with photographing friends and relatives in her back room soon evolved into a thriving business capturing newborns, children and families.
“My love for photography began because I adored babies,” she explained. “It all started when a friend had her baby at Arrowe Park, and I went in to take some photos. Before I knew it, friends were telling friends, and my partner Alan bought me my first proper camera about ten years ago. From there, people began asking if I could photograph their own babies, and that’s where it all began. I absolutely love what I do, it never feels like work.”
Her belief in the importance of capturing precious moments has been shaped by her own experiences. “A photo taken today becomes irreplaceable in the future,” she said. “I always encourage parents to be in the photographs too, because their children will treasure those memories one day.”
Janelle Holmes, Chief Executive at Wirral University Teaching Hospital, said: “Joanna’s story is incredibly moving, and we are grateful that she chose to come back to our Neonatal Unit to support families. Her journey from premature baby to successful photographer is inspiring, and we are proud that Arrowe Park Hospital played a part in her story.”
“Her photographs will provide treasured memories for parents during what can be an emotional and challenging time. Our neonatal staff work tirelessly to care for some of the tiniest and most vulnerable babies, and Joanna’s generosity has meant a great deal to the team.”
The Neonatal Unit at Arrowe Park Hospital recently reopened following stage one of a major refurbishment, completed on 8th December 2025. Supported by a £300,000 donation from local charity IncuBabies, the refurbishment modernised intensive and high-dependency clinical areas while improving space, comfort and privacy for families.
Janelle added: “The reopening of the refurbished unit is a positive moment for the Trust, our staff and our families. It represents years of community support, parent fundraising, and the dedication of clinical and estates teams working together to improve care for the most vulnerable babies on the Wirral.”
Joanna’s message to parents on the unit is one of hope. “Your baby is a fighter,” she said. “Tiny babies can grow up to have incredible lives, I’m living proof of that. Keep hope and keep faith.”