In November 2023, I had twins at 23+6 after having issues with incompetent cervix. Whilst we were in Bolton NICU, I would search through Bliss’ website looking for a positive story of 23 weekers.
I already had a neonatal loss at 22+5 with my first son Mason who lived for just over an hour but unfortunately my boy never made it to the NICU.
My twins were intubated in the delivery suite before being taken into the NICU. My little boy Lucas was very very poorly and he died a day and a half later after staff tried everything they could.
My little girl, Amelia, born 577g, spent 129 days in NICU between Bolton, Wigan and Liverpool Women’s Hospitals. She had a PDA, IVH, suspected Sepsis and NEC (both unconfirmed), acquired CMV, suspected Grade 3 ROP which later rectified on its own without any surgery.
Amelia had over 20 blood transfusions, including platelets and fresh frozen plasma when she fell extremely poorly at one point. She went home on oxygen and was under the care of the eye clinic, neonatal outreach and a physiotherapist.
She was on home oxygen for 5 months but she is thriving. She’s now 8 and a half months old (5 and a half months corrected) and very cheeky! She loves Teletubbies, blowing raspberries and has just started to try solids.
Although Amelia had it pretty rough, she did amazing and still continues to thrive. So far she’s hitting her milestones. She still may have difficulties when she’s older but we won’t know until later. But right now, she’s our little miracle and we treasure her every single day. She’s a credit to us and her brothers.
Reading stories on Bliss got me through the day sometimes. I never knew if we would ever bring any of our babies home, but reading other people’s stories gave me hope that one day we would and we did.
I hope our story gives others comfort. Amelia is proof that these small but mighty babies deserve a chance at life.
