One pound newborn celebrates first birthday

Julie Kenwell • Published 26 Jan 2012 13:00 Comments 1 Comment

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Heidi Huey with her parents Frances and Michael.

IRVINESTOWN'S Bawnacre Centre was a mass of balloons, party poppers and birthday cake on Monday this week as little Heidi Huey marked her first birthday.

It's a happy ending one year on for the tot, who officially turned one yesterday (Wednesday), as she should really be celebrating her birthday in April.

Heidi was born 14 weeks before her due date, weighing only one pound and 14 ounces.

Delivered at 26 weeks and one day in the Erne Hospital, her mother, Frances could hold her in just one hand and her first feed was a mere 0.5 millilitres of milk.

"The doctor told me at the time that the one additional day to the 26 weeks was a bonus," Frances told The Impartial Reporter, post-birthday celebrations this week, "He said we should never forget that one day because it was another day for Heidi to get stronger."

Now a bouncing bundle of joy for both her mum and her dad, Michael, her party in Irvinestown was a special celebration of just how far Heidi has come since her unexpected arrival last January.

A hairdresser in Irvinestown, Frances had no suspicions on the morning of January 25 last year that her daughter would be born by lunch time.

"I was five-and-a-half months pregnant at that stage. I went to work that morning. I sort of felt achey but I'd no real reason for concern. But Heidi had arrived by lunch time! An ambulance came to my mum's house and took me to the Erne and she was born."

Once born, Heidi was transferred to the neo-natal unit at Altnagelvin Hospital where she stayed for six-and-a-half weeks before returning to the Erne.

"Heidi was three-and-a-half months old when she got out of hospital," said Frances, "By then she was five pounds 10 ounces and was growing bigger and stronger and lovelier all the time! She got out a week before her due date.

"It was hard when she was in hospital. But when you're in that position, you know she needs all the help that the doctors and nurses are offering her and you know she can't come home. So we were content that she was in the right place."

Michael and Frances stayed in a room at Altnagelvin for the first couple of weeks while Heidi was carefully looked after.

Once she was more stabilised, they began travelling to and from Londonderry on a daily basis.

"It was hard leaving her every day, it was awful," said Frances, "But when we moved back to the Erne it was harder to leave her because you knew you were so close to home and you couldn't bring her with you."

But thankfully over Easter last year, little Heidi did get home and has been enjoying family life ever since with her older brother, Alfie.

"We were nervous when we brought her home," Frances admitted, "But it was a relief for us all. We thought she was massive when we brought her home but people kept remarking how tiny she was when they came to see her. We had to be so careful and make sure she didn't come in contact with any infections and make sure she stayed fit and strong.

"But it's all good now. She's a wee star. She has two teeth now and is full of energy! The hard part is behind us now and everything has worked out really well for Heidi."

Paying tribute to the dedicated staff at both the Erne and Altnagelvin, Frances said she hoped her daughter's story would help the parents of other premature babies to stay strong.

"I want other mothers out there to know that if this was to happen to them, their baby has a chance at life and that there is a happy ending," she said, "There was absolutely nothing wrong with me during my pregnancy so I had no reason to be concerned. The staff at the Erne and Altnagelvin were amazing.

"The nurses and the doctors delivering Heidi were fantastic -- they really gave us our baby and helped her get big and strong."

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 26 Jan 12

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andaluza7
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Jan 26, 17:24
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What a wonderful story by Julie Kenwell (Thurs.26 Jan) on little Heidi Huey who celebrated her 1st Birthday recently. A truly premature miracle baby who survived all the odds and many other setbacks is certainly something to celebrate. Many of us have little or no idea the care,attention and dedication required from the Medical staff in these neo-natal units . We merely hear heartrendering stories from their very concerned parents involved. Much praise goes to the Erne Hospital in Enniskillen and Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry. What a beautiful front page family photograph which her big brother Alfie will look at when he grows up. A really inspirational story for all parents about a little miracle baby who survived.

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