A tiny baby boy from Wishaw is continuing to defy the odds after being born prematurely and weighing just 1lb 6oz.
First-time mum Monica Sheen gave birth to “little warrior” Alfie Milligan on November 7 at just 27 weeks gestation.
Since then Monica and Alfie’s dad Gary Milligan, 32, have gone through a “rollercoaster” of emotions, as he fights for survival.
Alfie’s lungs have collapsed numerous times, he suffered respiratory arrest and had to be resuscitated, and has had to have seven blood transfusions.
The couple have heaped praise on neonatal staff for saving Alfie’s life more times than they can count.
District nurse Monica was rushed into the neonatal unit at Wishaw General and had to undergo an emergency caesarean section after it was discovered there was a lack of blood flow to baby Alfie in the womb.
Worryingly, Monica, a district nurse, also developed pre-eclampsia as well as placental insufficiency - a serious and somewhat rare complication in pregnancy.
Alfie wasn’t due to arrive until February 3 this year, but doctors moved quickly, intervening before the situation became critical for both mum and baby.
Alfie was born with Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), also known as foetal growth restriction (FGR).
Babies affected by this are more at risk to certain kinds of health problems during and after they are born.
“He was very ill when he was born,” Monica told Lanarkshire Live. “He was small because he was 27-weeks, but because he has IUGR he was even smaller.
“I didn’t get to see him and the neonatal team were there during surgery. I heard a wee small sound coming from him, but he had to be ventilated and taken to neonatal intensive care."
Monica and Gary spent day-upon-day endlessly sitting beside Alfie's incubator in the neonatal ICU at Wishaw General, watching helplessly as their tiny son fought for life.
They would return home at night only to receive a call to return immediately as their son remained critically ill.
Monica continued: “Because we knew he would be born premature the staff came over and told us all of these things could happen, so I thought I would be prepared, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“It really has been a rollercoaster with the highest of highs and lowest of lows. We’ve had nights where we’ve been phoned and told ‘you need to get here now’.
“You’re rushing trying to get to the hospital and don’t know if he’ll be alive when you get there.
“There were points when he was critically ill and the conversation with staff was about taking it one hour at a time and getting through each hour.
“The staff have literally saved Alfie’s life so many times I can’t even count."
Encouragingly, Alfie was removed from a ventilator a fortnight ago and has remained stable since. That has given his parents hope of having him home in the next month or so.
Monica told us: “It’s not over yet but he is doing much better and is starting to turn a corner.
“Just three weeks ago he was critically ill and we didn’t know what would happen.
"Now I’m hoping we can have him home sometime in February.”
The couple admit to feeling helpless and experiencing some of the worst times of their lives.
As a nurse herself, Monica has a real understanding of the gravity of the situation and appreciates the exceptional help of the neonatal staff who helped the whole family pull through.
Family friend Andy Docherty has launched a fundraiser with money raised being donated to the neonatal unit.
He plans to take on the David Goggins (4x4x48) Challenge and run four miles every four hours for two days starting on March 4.
More than £3150 has already been raised, but no matter the final total, Monica admits she can never repay the staff for what they’ve done.
She said: “How do you repay that? How do you repay someone saving your babies life so many times?
“I’m so grateful Andy is doing this for them.
“I think it is really important people understand what actually goes on in the unit. Staff are amazing, I cannot tell you how amazing they are, from the consultants to the support workers.
“I genuinely believe they love Alfie as much as I do.”
Donations for David's efforts can be made here.
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