A family whose premature baby, born at only 26 weeks and weighing less than a kilo, received four vital blood transfusions, are appealing for more people to donate blood and give the gift of life this Christmas.
Baby Alexandria, from Scotland, was born extremely prematurely and had to spend over three months in hospital. She faced challenges after being born prematurely and was the recipient of four blood transfusions. Now, her mother, Nicolle, is calling for people to donate more blood and help save lives this Christmas.
“After 102 days in hospital, in April this year, we brought our baby home”, Nicolle said. “She had been through so much in her wee life already. She was intubated at birth, needed oxygen support at home, and received four blood transfusions”.
“Her dad Dan and I believe she is our total miracle and our warrior princess. We absolutely cannot wait to celebrate her first Christmas”.
“She never gave up. To the blood donors who helped give her a chance at life – thank you for giving us our world”.
It has been reported that the percentage of people in Scotland who donate blood has decreased over the past decade from 3% to under 2%. This decline puts pressure on hospitals, according to the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS), which may need blood to help save the lives of premature babies like Alexandria. These donations are especially important because blood has a shelf life of only 35 days, so regular donations are needed.
Premmie home in time for Christmas
Scotland has had Christmas gifts in the form of premmies before. In 2023, a baby boy born at just 28 weeks made it home for Christmas after a 10-week rollercoaster in the neonatal unit.
When baby Sebastian Davidson from Inverurie, Scotland, was born in April, he weighed only 1.2kg.
Everything seemed to be progressing as it should until Sebastian’s mum, Stephanie, began to experience high blood pressure when she was 24 weeks pregnant. Even after a few weeks, it had not gone down, and by the time she was 28 weeks pregnant, she had started to develop signs of preeclampsia and was told that she would have to give birth to her baby straight away.
Her little boy was born via an emergency caesarean section and taken immediately to the Neonatal Unit in Aberdeen, where he underwent a 10-week neonatal “rollercoaster”.
Stephanie admitted that it was hard receiving messages congratulating her on Sebastian’s birth. She said “I don’t want it because I don’t know how this is going to end, was basically my feeling”.
Amazingly, tiny Sebastian came home after 10 weeks in the Neonatal Unit and mum reports that “things are good after a very, very bumpy start”.
Stephanie and her husband Stephen were able to celebrate Sebastian’s first Christmas at home. Mum confessed that she was planning to “spoil him rotten” as they joyfully awaited being home together for the festive season.
Smiley little Sebastian was born at just 28 weeks gestation. Medical advances mean that babies like Sebastian and Alexandria are doing better than ever.
Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said “It is heartening to hear how well baby Alexandria is doing after her tough 102 days in hospital and the four blood transfusions she has undergone”.
“While the outcomes for premature babies are improving all the time due to medical advancements, it is worrying that life-saving blood donations are decreasing. Alexandria’s family calling for an increase in blood donations this Christmas is a welcome endeavour”.
