I was afraid they would take Lexi
The birth of her first baby should have been the best time in Lindsey Boyle’s life but it became the worst.
Her daughter Lexi was born nine weeks early, weighing just 2lb 4oz.
And, in the fraught, stressful weeks that followed Lindsey slipped into depression.
Piled on to the worry for her dangerously premature baby was the terror that Lexi might never come home, that she might be taken from hospital straight into care.
Lindsey, 22, is one of thousands of parents in Scotland with learning disabilities and up to 40 per cent are judged incapable of caring for their children.
Remembering the months after Lexi’s birth, Lindsey said: “I was overwhelmed. Sometimes it felt like I couldn’t breathe.
“I was travelling twice a day to hospital, four buses a day, to sit with Lexi and I was worried and stressed all the time.
“It was too much. I was struggling to cope and then being told I might lose Lexi into care was overwhelming.
“It was the worst thing and made everything feel one thousand times worse.
“It felt like crushed.”
After four months in Crosshouse Lexi was allowed home in October to live with Lindsey and her mum and dad, Irene and David, in Monkton. I was being
Lindsey said: “I love Lexi so much and always loved being with her but there were times when I would feel that caring for her properly was too much for me.
“I knew I needed help and I couldn’t have done it without that help.”
Lindsey split from Lexi’s dad during her pregnancy, although they remain friends and share care of their daughter.
Her parents have been hugely supportive but she also hails the help she received from children’s charity Aberlour, who have a base in Girvan.
The charity give practical advice and emotional support to families where one or both parents have learning disabilities.
Wee Lexi will celerate her first birthday next month.
Lindsey said: “Things have changed so much over the last six months. Lexi is the best thing that has happened to me.
“I can’t imagine my life without her but know I might have lost her. I am so grateful to everyone who has helped me.”