An Angus couple have spoken of the heartbreaking loss of their ‘miracle’ baby after a three-year medical battle.
Mark and Tracy Shepherd, from Arbroath, lost their only child Megan to a respiratory infection last Wednesday.
Tracy (37) only discovered she was pregnant with Megan at 18 weeks after previously being told she was unable to have children.
Since then the couple have been on an emotional rollercoaster as Megan was born 10 weeks early with numerous medical complications.
Megan was born with two holes in her heart and stayed at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, for more than three weeks until being taken home.
A weak immune system led to recurring infections and just five days after going home for the first time, she was back in hospital with meningitis.
She fought back and had a successful heart operation at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow.
However, Megan continued to be in and out of hospital with infections and could not overcome her latest illness.
Tracy said her daughter had been ”very brave” but that this time she had ”no fight left”.
She said: ”We’ve been under no illusions that this day might come as Megan had one infection after another, but she was very determined.
”Sometimes she baffled the doctors at Ninewells, and consultants there said they were constantly learning from her.”
Megan was admitted to Ninewells Hospital on May 16 with the respiratory infection and transferred to Rachel House in Kinross two days later for terminal care.
”She rallied at Rachel House but then plateaued,” said Mark (35). ”You could see that she was really tired and she’d had enough.
”She died in our arms in the early hours of Wednesday morning and was very peaceful.”
The couple paid tribute to the medical staff who had cared for their daughter over the past three years. They singled out Audrey Toshney, a palliative care specialist at Ninewells, as someone who ”went that extra mile”.
Tracy and Mark also said the staff and facilities at Rachel House, part of the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland, had been ”brilliant”.
Mark continued: ”I couldn’t fault any of the Ninewells staff, especially Audrey who has been an amazing support to us. Nothing was too much for her. The green and blue teams there were all really good.
”We’ve only been coming to Rachel House every six weeks since August for respite. Megan really enjoyed the activities available here, particularly the sensory room which changes colours.
”It’s a nice environment and we knew that when things got bad we wanted her to come back here for terminal care. The staff have been a godsend over the past few days with their help arranging the funeral.”
Megan was laid to rest at Arbroath’s Old and Abbey Church in Arbroath on Wednesday. The family asked people to wear bright colours as a reflection of Megan’s cheerful disposition.
Tracy said: ”She was very brave and a happy and content wee girl considering what she’d gone through. There have been some bad times, but they are far outweighed by the good times.”