Defying the odds, baby joy for mum with MND
Lucy warned by doctors her body would not cope
WHEN Lucy Lintott was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, she was told it would end her hopes of becoming a mother.
But the 25-year-old has defied the odds and given birth to a baby son.
Miss Lintott was warned by doctors that her body could not cope with pregnancy and childbirth after she was diagnosed with MND six years ago.
But despite the risks, she and her partner, Tommy Smith, decided to try to start a family.
Elated but exhausted after 15 hours in labour, Miss Lintott – the first MND patient to become pregnant after being diagnosed – said: ‘I promised Tommy that I could do this, that we would both make it – the baby and me.
‘He has told me how lucky we are and how proud he is that I kept my promise.’
Miss Lintott, from Fochabers, in Moray, said that ‘her world came crashing down’ when she was diagnosed with MND aged only 19. The neurological disease, which usually affects people much older than Miss Linnot, damages the nerves that control movement and sufferers are often left unable to walk and lose the ability to speak.
Her son, LJ, arrived at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital at 7am on Thursday.
Miss Lintott, who has raised nearly £200,000 for MND research, said: ‘When he came and they put him on my chest I just started bawling my eyes out. They were such happy tears. He is pretty perfect. It is still very surreal.
‘Now I understand what people say about the love you feel for your baby. I can’t really describe it. I just want to do everything for him. I’d do anything for him.’
She added: ‘Our baby was planned. In January last year, I went to see my doctor to find out if I could have kids.
‘That was because when I was first diagnosed my sister asked the neurologist, and he said that my body wouldn’t be able to cope with it. That destroyed me a little bit, just because ever since I can remember I have wanted kids and wanted to be a mum, which is one of the most natural things.
‘So I kind of knew it was more of a “no”. But with me being five years on at the time, with my MND not progressing, and getting into a serious relationship with Tommy, I wanted to know where I stood, and I wanted Tommy to know where he stood as well. It was better to find out.’
Miss Lintott, who now relies on a wheelchair to get around, said: ‘Tommy and I are a team. I would not have come through the pregnancy or the labour without him.
‘There are not a lot of people who, after their partner has given birth, have to look after her and the baby and go into that knowing that they are going to have to do that. He is always protective when he needs to be.’
She added: ‘I always felt selfish because I wanted to be a mum. I felt like, “am I being greedy because there are other people out there with terminal illnesses and it is not even an option for them?” I feel selfish, too, because at the moment this is a terminal illness and I may not be around as my baby boy gets older. I’d be leaving Tommy as a widower.
‘But then I remember that our son is already getting a better start to life because he has parents who love him and love each other, and he has four amazing grandparents.’
‘Started bawling my eyes out’ ‘Wanted to be a mum’