Who do we save.. the mum or baby?
The good news – they both survived
A DAD has spoken of the terrible moment doctors asked him if they should save the life of his baby son or fiancee when she went into premature labour.
Dad-of-six Michael McConnell, from Falkirk, spoke of the terrifying moment a doctor at University Hospital Wishaw pulled him to one side and whispered: “If push comes to shove, who survives, mum or baby?” Things had taken a dramatic turn when Michael’s partner Stephanie Brown, 29, was giving birth to their son Michael, known as Mickey, at 16 weeks early on November 8 last year. The 33-year-old dad said he felt like his heart stopped beating when he was faced with the unimaginable decision. Michael told the Record: “The umbilical cord collapsed, putting both her and my unborn boy in grave danger. “When the doctor asked who I would save during her labour, I felt numb. My heart stopped, I thought I was going to leave that building alone. There’s no word to describe the fear I felt.
“Everyone was sceptical about my son’s survival so when I learned Steph’s life was in danger too, my heart froze... all I cared about was her being OK. I just wanted her home. Losing her was an impossible option for me.”
And when little fighter Mickey was born weighing just 1lb 3oz, he surprised even medical staff by arriving with an almighty roar.
Musician Michael said: “No one in the theatre could believe he’d made it. It was such a big voice from such a small and fragile being.
“He was rushed away to safety and has since fought every day since. Steph had held on just long enough. He was here and they were both alive. The relief I felt was massive.”
Since being born, Mickey has had more than his fair share of scares. He’s already been admitted to four different hospitals and is now settled at the Royal Hospital for Children in Edinburgh.