Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
‘Benjamin is a wee fighter – we’re just over the moon that the op went so well’
Ali Evans was speaking to the Tele today after tiny Benjamin endured a four-hour operation to mend two holes in his heart.
The eight-month-old was taken to Glasgow by his parents to have the procedure, which had previously been scheduled for December, but was cancelled at the last minute due to a lack of beds.
However, Ali and Scott got word at the end of last week that it would go ahead.
The family travelled south and Benjamin had his operation on Tuesday.
Ali, from Forfar, said that Benjamin is now doing really well.
She said: “It was really good to know he was finally getting his operation but very nerve-racking as well.
“His dad carried him down to surgery in his little gown. He was very brave — we kissed him and told him we loved him.
“I told him as he was getting put under the anaesthetic to come back to your mammy and thank God he did.
“We are both over the moon and very proud of our boy.
“When we got word he had come through the operation his dad and I felt like we had won the lottery.”
Benjamin was born seven weeks early in June last year, weighing just one-and-a-half pounds.
Doctors identified that he had Down’s syndrome prior to his birth.
After several weeks in a hospital incubator, he was allowed to go home.
But after five weeks as a “happy” baby, Benjamin suddenly became ill and was re-admitted to hospital where doctors discovered two holes in his heart.
Ali said that the doctors had told her that the operation had gone very well.
She added: “We have been told that his sedation will now be lowered and he should be coming off the ventilator soon.
“We are just so happy that everything seems to have gone so well.”
Benjamin’s sister, Lisa Rooney, 28, said that everyone in the family was delighted by the news. She said: “The four hours he was in theatre were very long ones for all of us, especially his mum and dad.
“We know his recovery will take time but the fact the operation has been a success is the main thing,
“We’ll just take it a day at a time and pray he makes a full recovery.
“Doctors have told us there is no reason why Benjamin can’t go on to lead a full, healthy life.
“He’s such a brave little boy and it’s fantastic to know that the operation is now behind us.
“This was life-saving surgery for Benjamin and we were all so worried.”
Lisa said the family were very grateful to those who had helped raise more than £600 to pay for travel and accommodation for Scott and Ali during all their trips to hospital with Benjamin.
She said: “Everyone has been fantastic and taken a lot of the financial pressure off my dad and Ali when they had much more important things to worry about at this very difficult time for all of us.”
“Benjamin is a ray of sunshine in our lives — one of his gummy smiles and he makes everything better.
“Our brave wee moose is a fighter, I’m very proud and love him so much.” Ourvoice
A MUM has said she felt like she’d “won the lottery” when she was told her baby boy had successfully come through life-saving surgery.
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