Mum praises doctors and nurses for 'miracle' baby
A proud mum has praised our doctors and nurses for saving the life of her “miracle” baby born four months early.
Freddie spent 230 days in neonatal intensive care at The Royal London hospital after arriving prematurely at 23 weeks, weighing only 610 grams
He was transferred to the care of our specialist team after his tiny brother Charlie unfortunately didn’t survive a complicated twin birth at Medway Maritime hospital, Kent.
Freddie was initially not expected to live either but underwent multiple surgeries, overcame sepsis and defied infections to be successfully discharged home in September.
“Miracles do happen” Freddie’s mother, Lucy Havard, told the Romford Recorder. Lucy was supported by The Sick Children’s Trust to stay at Stevenson House near the hospital in Whitechapel to be close to her son.
She described staff at The Royal London as “absolutely incredible” and she owes them “absolutely everything” for saving Freddie’s life on multiple occasions.
“He was just so brave. It wasn’t easy for him at all. We were told even months into his journey in the NICU that he still wasn’t going to make it because he was so poorly,” Lucy said.
Babies born at 23 weeks of pregnancy are classified as extremely premature and only 4 in 10 babies who receive intensive care treatment, survive in the UK.
Dr Vadivelam Murthy, Consultant Neonatologist at The Royal London Hospital, said: “Freddie’s journey is a remarkable testament to the skill, dedication and compassion of our neonatal teams.
“Caring for a baby born at just 23 weeks requires highly specialised expertise and a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach. We are immensely proud of the care provided and delighted to see Freddie go home after such a challenging start to his life.”