Family thank hospital for saving little Ben

Sep 25 2008 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

A FAMILY were so grateful to Wishaw General’s neo-natal staff for saving their baby boy they travelled almost 100 miles to say a £1500 thank-you.

The Smith clan, from Kirkcudbright, made the trip from Dumfries and Galloway to thank the NHS Lanarkshire hospital for saving the life of baby Ben.

On February 9 this year, Ben had been born 14 weeks early, weighing only 1 lb 12oz.

Sadly his identical twin brother Owen could not be saved but, after eight weeks of loving care at Wishaw General, followed by six weeks in Cresswell Maternity Hospital, Ben was allowed home on May 27 – eight days after his due date - and now weighs over 11 lbs.

Ben, mum Lynsey and sisters Terri (12), a pupil at Kirkcudbright Academy and nine-year-old Rebecca, a pupil at Johnston Primary, recently drove north to say a huge thank-you to the Wishaw staff. Dad Derek (35) who is a skipper on a fishing boat, was unable to make the journey due to work.

Lynsey (32), a clerical assistant at Johnston Primary, said: “The staff at the neo-natal unit at Wishaw were brilliant and did everything they could for Ben and Owen. Sadly Owen’s lungs were just too weak and we lost him but Ben survived and is doing everything a baby his age should be.

“His two sisters love him and Terri has him spoiled rotten. She decided to walk the half-marathon in Kirkcudbright to raise money and Rebecca helped in the fundraising.”