Christmas baby joy for new family

Home news

Dec 19, 2012

Colleagues and residents at Care UK’s Station House care home have an extra special reason to celebrate this Christmas thanks to some happy news for one of their team.

For dementia unit manager Kelly Harrison, a true Christmas miracle has happened following the arrival of her baby daughter Millie.

Kelly, who had been told she would never have children, is now a proud mum to Millie, who was born at just 28 weeks and weighing less than three pounds.

Now being cared for in the special care unit at Leighton Hospital, Millie now weighs three pound ten ounces and a delighted Kelly and her partner Darren Jennings are able to hold their daughter, who is no longer in an incubator.

Millie was born on November 13 weighing just two pounds and seven ounces.

Kelly, who is staying by Millie’s side every day at the hospital, said:
“Both myself and Darren have found things very hard but with support from both families and the fabulous nurses who have gone the extra mile to support us and ease the pain, we are coping a little better now.
“We were dealt a big blow and set back when Millie got septicaemia at nine days old and were told she may not see the night through - these were the worst hours of our lives. To sit by our little angels side while she lay there looking so lifeless was very hard, but she made a full recovery.
“It has been amazing to watch Millie progress from intensive care, high dependency and now to an open cot in special care.”

Kelly, 29, who has worked for Care UK for 12 years, is hoping to take her bundle of Christmas joy home in the New Year.

In recognition of the care Kelly and Millie have received at the hospital, her colleagues at Station House have decided that instead of sending Christmas cards this year, they have held a collection and have raised £140 to donate to the hospital.

Home manager Sarah Evans said: “Kelly is very special to us all here, she has wanted a baby for so long and it is wonderful that she has finally got her wish.

“Millie is doing so well, she’s a real fighter and is made of strong stuff just like her mum. I cannot tell you how pleased we are for her, she was told she would never have children and then out of the blue she fell pregnant.

“The last weeks have had some dreadful lows for Kelly and Darren but we seem to have turned a corner just in time for Christmas.”

Sarah added that the Station House team wanted to recognise the efforts of Leighton Hospital in caring for Millie and Kelly.

“The hospital has just been phenomenal, they have done such a wonderful job and we wanted to say thank you.”