Miracle tot Connor to have first Christmas

Dec 23 2010 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

A BABY given a 10 per cent chance of survival will celebrate his first Christmas on Saturday.

Connor Whitton was born in June after mum Gemma Boland went through a marathon 32-hour labour.

From the moment Gemma found out she was pregnant on November 5 last year problems began to arise. Gemma, who was told that she would probably need to have some form of IVF treatment in order to conceive, was delighted and surprised that she had fallen pregnant naturally.

She explained: “I couldn’t believe it when I found it. We were both over the moon but I found out really early and by six weeks I had started to bleed.”

Gemma, a former Holy Cross High School pupil, was given a scan. She was warned that it was possible that no heartbeat would be detected because the scan was so early. But doctors at Hairmyres Hospital were able to give both mother and infant the all clear.

Gemma encountered fewer problems until she reached 32-weeks when she began to bleed again, and it was thought that her waters had ruptured. But another scan confirmed that all was well.

Throughout the pregnancy Gemma had to receive injections because she had a rare blood group and was told by doctors that this could cause her problems and that she may be at risk of a miscarriage.

At 38 weeks, Gemma went into labour and her waters broke. Her contractions started soon after and 25 hours later she was admitted to Wishaw General Hospital.

She said: “I was really tired and wanted a water birth to begin with but it wasn’t working. The medication had made me really sick, I had been in labour for 29 hours by that point.

“The midwives and doctors were keeping a close eye on Connor and I, but my heartbeat was beginning to increase and Connor’s was decreasing.

“Just a few hours later I was given an emergency section and they literally had 10 minutes to deliver him or it was going to be fatal. I don’t remember much after this.”

Connor was delivered at 9.27am on June 28, weighing 6lbs 15ozs, but was not breathing.

Connor’s dad Garry, a former Earnock High School pupil and now a joiner, explained: “The doctors and nurses whisked him away. I remember him being really grey in colour. They worked with him for 15 minutes and managed to get a very slight heartbeat. I was so upset and couldn’t believe what was happening.

“They ran various tests after this and really told us to prepare for the worst. They really didn’t think he would pull through.”

PROUD parents Garry Whitton and Gemma Boland say miracle tot Connor owes his life to the care he received at Wishaw General’s neonatal department.

Connor was in the unit for three days before being transferred to a transitional ward.

He began to put on weight and his brain tests came back as normal.

However he was going to have to have some aftercare because his blood levels were abnormal.

Since then Connor has made almost a full recovery, although he has since been diagnosed with a dairy, lactose and gluten intolerance.

The couple are extremely grateful for the efforts the staff made with Connor and them during their difficult time.

Gemma, who works as a travel agent with Barrhead Travel, added: “I just feel we owe them so much and we have so much to thank them for. They went over and above the call of duty the whole time we were both in the hospital. If it wasn’t for them Connor wouldn’t be here today.

“Doctors and nurses at the hospital explained to myself and Garry that if Connor did pull through that he would be in neonatal for a long time and we were all shocked at his fast recovery.

“All of Connor’s family, including grandparents and great-grandparents, will be around on Christmas Day it will be extra special this year.”

The couple plan now to raise funds for the hospital’s neonatal unit and transitional care ward as a thank you.

The are holding a fund-raising evening in the British Legion in East Kilbride, on April 1, 2011.

Tickets will soon be on sale and are available by contacting Gemma on email: princess-gemzb@hotmail.co.uk

They also plan to host a fancy dress sponsored walk around Strathclyde Country Park in the spring in a bid to raise more cash for the units.