Smallest surviving premature baby girl born in Ireland to spend Christmas at home

A woman believed to be the smallest surviving untimely child born on the island of Eire has been described by her dad and mom as a “little miracle” earlier than their particular first Christmas at house collectively.

Raina Gilmore weighed 378g, lower than a pound, when she was delivered through Caesarean part at 26 weeks on June twenty eighth.

Her weight dipped to 360g in her first few days within the neonatal intensive care unit on the Royal Maternity hospital in Belfast.

Mother and father Rachel (25) and Marcus (33) who dwell in Ballyclare, Co Antrim, have been advised their child had a couple of 10 per cent likelihood of survival.

However regardless of a number of well being scares and problems throughout 4 months in hospital, first on the Royal after which at Antrim Space Hospital, Raina battled by way of and her mom and father have been lastly in a position to take her house in October.

“Each time that day truly got here, I don’t even know how one can clarify it, it was like all our Christmases rolled into one,” mentioned Ms Gilmore, a self-employed beautician.

“It was beautiful as a result of all of the nurses and medical doctors stood out and clapped for her leaving. My mum and pop have been there too.

“It was simply the most effective days of our lives to lastly get her house.”

In her time in hospital, Raina wanted 11 blood transfusions, was handled for sepsis and a suspected critical bowel situation twice, encountered issues with kidney perform and had investigations for points along with her liver and retinas.

She had 450 mixed blood exams and swabs. She additionally had two spinal lumbar punctures to examine for meningitis.

Her father, a telecommunications government, learn a chapter of Harry Potter to her each evening she spent in hospital.

They have by way of 5 books thus far.

Raina nonetheless faces challenges. She has to take steroids as a result of her physique doesn’t produce sufficient cortisol and he or she is because of endure hip surgical procedure in April.

Ms Gilmore mentioned the way in which Raina has regularly bounced again from adversity is superb.

“It appeared like something that got here her method that appeared fairly unhealthy, she got here again larger and stronger than ever,” she mentioned.

At an occasion the household just lately attended on the Royal to mark World Untimely Day, they have been advised the earlier smallest child born on the hospital weighed 398g.

Within the Republic of Eire, a woman who weighed 390g at delivery is believed to be the State’s smallest surviving untimely child.

“Raina was principally the burden of a tin of soup. A tin of Heinz soup is 400g and he or she was 378g. She was tiny,” mentioned Ms Gilmore.

At a current check-up, Raina weighed in at 7lb 5ozs.

Regardless of being nearly six months previous, she continues to be too small for lots of new child garments.

Christmas within the Gilmore home is ready to be further particular.

“Raina can be spoiled rotten,” mentioned Ms Gilmore.

The household say they’re so grateful to everybody who has performed a component in serving to Raina so far, significantly the medical doctors and nurses concerned in her care.

In addition they described as “completely superb” the assist they’ve had from untimely child charity TinyLife.

The charity requested the Gilmores if they’d take into account sharing their story publicly.

“I do know it’s good to have optimistic tales as a result of each time TinyLife mentioned to us about telling our story, I mentioned, ‘completely’, as a result of we have been determined for some excellent news tales each time we have been in hospital with Raina,” mentioned Ms Gilmore.

“And if anyone can see our story and it provides them a little bit of hope then that’s what we would like.” – PA

For extra details about TinyLife, go to tinylife.org.uk