A mum has delivered her special thanks to the dedicated medical staff whose skills helped her son to overcome a difficult start in life.
In a handover of a four-figure sum raised through a fancy dress sponsored walk, Alison Findlay from the neonatal department of Ninewells Hospital in Dundee was reunited with bouncing baby Corrie McCombie, who was nursed through a potentially problematic blood condition.
Alison picked up the £1,000 cheque at the Golden Haddock fish and chip shop in Arbroath, where Corrie’s mum Melanie works. Staff there supported the fundraising walk from the restaurant to Easthaven.
Melanie said the generous support from family, staff and customers of the Golden Haddock was a fitting tribute to the “amazing” Ninewells team.
Corrie arrived six weeks early after medical staff became concerned because of the potential problems posed by a blood group difference between mum and baby.
Melanie said: “I am B- and Corrie is B+ and basically all my blood was going into his and causing problems.”
Corrie was affected by Rhesus disease, a condition where antibodies in the mum’s blood destroy her baby’s blood cells.
It only occurs in the specific situation where the mother is rhesus negative and the baby rhesus positive, with her body producing infection-fighting antibodies which attack the child’s red blood cells.
Although it does not harm the mother, the disease can cause the baby to become anaemic and it meant a very uncertain start for Corrie, who underwent two exchange blood transfusions and spent three weeks in the neonatal unit, transferring to the special care baby unit for transitional care.
“Corrie’s now a happy, healthy little boy of five months,” Melanie said.
Although she had no difficulties with the birth of daughter Katie, 7, Melanie said Corrie’s problems led to the decision to bring him into the world early.
“In a normal pregnancy you would get an injection which would stop my blood producing the attacking antibodies, but they decided that delivering Corrie early was the best option, and the care that they gave him in those early stages was just amazing.
“He was a very ill little boy for those first 24 hours.”
Melanie added: “I would like to give a special mention to Dr Tony Nicol, but the whole neonatal team was so dedicated.
“We really enjoyed the sponsored walk. There was about a dozen of us and my family, staff, friends and customers have been great with their support.”