Little Sonny Hamilton spent the first week of his life in intensive care, after being born two months premature.
But just days before Christmas, the Dundee tot has been allowed home to his parents, Sean and Rosie, and big sister Poppy, 2 who helped in her own special way, casting “magic spells” for her baby brother.
“There’s nothing else I could have asked for Christmas,” Rosie said.
From early on in her pregnancy, she suspected there was something amiss.
“I knew things weren’t as they should have been,” she said. “It was put down to various possibilities.”
Then, at her 12-week scan, doctors discovered a blood clot. She was monitored closely but at 17 weeks Rosie and Sean had another shock.
“On August 11, I was due to go back to work,” she explained. “I was at home and things went wrong. I got severe pain.”
Rosie was rushed into Ninewells Hospital by ambulance and kept in for most of the next three months.
“The staff in ward 37, Wendy McGeoghie and her team, were amazing,” she said.
“Our consultant Dr Tony Nicoll was absolutely amazing. He was in almost daily and explained everything so clearly and calmly Sean and I both felt a lot more secure.
Rosie was allowed home for day visits to see Sean and Poppy. But then on November 28, two months before her due date, her waters broke.
Baby Sonny was delivered by caesarean section and weighed 4lb 14oz. He spent the first week of his life in intensive care before being moved down to neonatal.
“At first he was on an oxygen mask, IV wires and under a lamp,” Rosie said.
Sonny was moved to transitional care earlier this week where Rosie could come in, bond with him and establish a feeding pattern, but he was finally allowed home on Wednesday night.
“It’s been three months of fear, a lot of uncertainty but the support from family and friends was great and Sean was absolutely amazing.
“Especially at this time of year, to get him home makes it more special.”