Miracle boy has his first day at school
Raploch lad was given little chance of survival as a baby
A brave Raploch boy who was given little chance of survival as a baby defied the odds by setting off for his first day at school last week.
Jamie Gardiner was a picture of joy as he packed his pencil case and donned his new uniform before heading for the classroom to make some new friends at Raploch Primary.
The four-year-old was diagnosed with a rare abdominal condition called Exomphalos Major while in the womb.
This meant that his organs were on the outside of his body rather than inside.
A number of serious medical complications followed after birth and medics even told mum Gemma they feared he wouldn’t survive the journey to intensive care for emergency treatment.
However, after a catalogue of complex procedures and surgeries Jamie was finally on the mend – and he spent more than seven months being cared for in Yorkhill Hospital.
Proud Gemma admits his remarkable recovery has been something of a miracle, although she never doubted her boy’s fighting spirit.
She said: “We were told his chances of survival were slim. The doctors didn’t expect him to make it and they said that even if he did survive there would be serious complications.
“They even said they weren’t sure if he would make it to the intensive care at the hospital. He couldn’t eat anything for months and he was IV fed.
“After four months he had his big operation and things started to get better – but we were in Yorkhill for seven-anda-half months in total.”
The 25 year-old admits she was proud at seeing her boy make his way to the classroom for the very first time.
She added: “We were told we probably wouldn’t see this day but he has fought through everything and just kept going. He is really determined.
“He really enjoyed his first week at school and he has already made new friends. On his first day I went into the classroom with him but he just said, ‘I’m a big boy, you can go now’.
“His gran and grandad were with us too on his first day and everyone is really proud.
“It’s a day we never thought we’d see.
While Jamie is doing much better these days Gemma admitted that their hospital visits are not yet at an end.
She said: “He still has high blood pressure, acid reflux and a problem with his abdominal wall so he might need surgery on that again.
“He just takes it in his stride though. I think racing cars are the only things he’s interested in at the moment.”