Baby boy born with Covid has defied all odds
A COUPLE has told how their baby son, born with Covid, defied all odds.
Every parent’s worst nightmare, became a reality for Emma Vincent, 27, and Ross Kennedy, 30, from Loftus.
The joy of becoming pregnant with their second child after a couple of years of trying was quickly overshadowed by the fear of losing their newborn baby.
Emma was admitted to James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough, following a haemorrhage at home.
A Covid-positive Emma had to have an emergency C-section to save her baby’s life at just 27 weeks.
The procedure was a success, but baby Remy was quickly isolated as he too had tested positive for Covid.
It wasn’t until 12 days later that Emma and Ross were able to meet their newborn. The hospital called to tell them their baby was very poorly and they needed to come immediately.
“It’s a phone call no parent should ever get,” Emma said.
“As we drove we knew that the day we got to meet our baby could be the day we also have to say goodbye.
“Seeing his two pounds, seven ounces, body hooked up to machines keeping him alive was heart-breaking.”
It was one thing after another for Remy. He contracted a form of sepsis which meant he needed a ventilator.
The sepsis then triggered a bleed on his lungs which caused one to collapse and pneumonia to set in. Emma and Ross were then told Remy had fluid on his heart and two brain bleeds.
“The amazing doctors and nurses continued to do anything possible, and he started improving,” said Emma.
“The doctors and nurses in the Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are worth their weight in gold, we will be forever in their debt.
“Soon after he was put on a 10-day intensive course of steroids. From then he came on in leaps and bounds and bit by bit he grew bigger and stronger.”
Baby Remy fought hard and, after 79 agonising days, mum and dad were told they were allowed to take him home to meet his big sister, Aela – just in time for Christmas.
Emma said: “The experience as a whole was horrendous. Covid made it even worse. I didn’t meet my baby til he was over a week old due to isolation rules. Even then we had to wear PPE, I didn’t touch his bare skin without a glove on till day 21, never mind hold him.
“It’s something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.
“I still look at him in awe, wondering how he managed to get through everything he did. But so far so good. He’s hitting his milestones as he should and thriving.”
Throughout it all, the family was supported by a local charity, Neoangels, who work hard to support the families of sick and premature babies at James Cook Hospital and North Tees.
Emma and Ross say they will always be in their debt: “Because of Covid restrictions we had to keep two cars on the road in order to visit the baby and also take care of our five-year-old daughter Aela.
“Neoangels helped with the expense of driving and parking and also gave us vouchers to enable us to get something to eat while visiting. Eating was the last thing on our minds!
“We couldn’t be any more grateful. The least we could do is raise awareness of the charity so they can continue helping other parents go through the unimaginable.”