KICK UP THE ASS
DAVID Assman, 47, has been banned from using his surname for a personalised car plate in Melville, Canada, because it’s “offensive”.
A BABY born the size of a ketchup bottle has survived against one in a million odds and cheated death five times.
Care worker Hanna Rose, 25, gave birth to son George three months prematurely and was told by doctors he would die.
When he was born at 23 weeks George weighed 1lb 5oz and was so small his skin was translucent.
In one picture, he can be seen to be the same length as a syringe.
Doctors told Hanna and partner Daniel Bownes, 27, that George would die on five separate occasions after repeated bouts of sepsis and meningitis.
On one occasion he received a final blessing by a hospital chaplain. He was eventually discharged earlier this year after 26 weeks in hospital.
First time mum Hanna said: “The doctors told us George had a one in a million chance of surviving and it was almost impossible that he’d pull through.
“I was convinced that he was going to die so it’s truly a miracle that he’s here with us.
“Each and every day we have with him is a true blessing.”
At 23 weeks’ pregnant – shortly before the legal abortion limit – Hanna began to have back pain. She spent four agonising days in labour before giving birth.
At the size of a Heinz plastic ketchup bottle George was put on life support at six minutes old and immediately put into a plastic ‘sandwich bag’ in an incubator.
Hanna said: “He was given immediate emergency surgery. We couldn’t touch him because he was born with transparent skin.”
George suffered from a swollen liver and lost 40% of his blood in the resulting surgery to correct this.
Because he was so premature, he developed sepsis and meningitis after the op and his tiny body went into septic shock.
Hanna and Daniel were told nothing more could be done for George and he received a final blessing from a hospital chaplain.
But as they were with George in what they thought would be his final moments, he began to improve.
Staff said they had never seen a patient with an infection marker as high as their son’s survive. Hanna said: “The doctor said we had only a couple of hours left.
“It was horrendous – the vicar came and blessed him and sat with him – we were told it was best to turn off his life support.
“But we were reading to him and suddenly the numbers on his blood pressure were coming up, it was amazing.”
George faces an uncertain future as he relies on an oxygen tank to help him breathe. His parents say every day with him is a blessing.
Now back at home in Worksop, Notts, George weighs almost 6lb 2oz and loves cuddles with his mum and dad.
Hanna and Daniel are raising money on GoFundMe to pay for George to receive physiotherapy to help improve his movement, as he was left brain damaged.
To date, the tot has had more than 20 blood transfusions and is awaiting his seventh operation, which will be on his heart.
Hanna added: “Spending time with him has been amazing.
“After the doctors said he wouldn’t make it five times, every day is special.
“We believe he is going to carry on doing that and with the right help he will thrive.”
Donate to George’s appeal here: https://www.gofundme.com/ georges-journeyy.