A newborn, weighing only 1.3lbs at birth, has managed to survive 230 days in medical care and undergo five surgeries after being delivered prematurely at 23 weeks. Freddie, now eight-and-a-half months old, entered the world alongside his brother Charlie in January, a full four months before their anticipated arrival date.
Their mother, Lucy Havard, aged 30, encountered twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, a condition affecting identical twins who share a placenta, leading to an uneven distribution of blood supply. Despite undergoing laser treatment to rectify the imbalance, Lucy went into labor a week later.
Freddie was born weighing 610 grams (1.3lbs) while Charlie weighed 600 grams. Unfortunately, Charlie passed away a week later at Medway Maritime Hospital.
Following his brother’s demise, Freddie was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel. He experienced necrotising enterocolitis, a condition causing bowel tissue inflammation and death, leading to a 20cm bowel removal surgery at just 27 weeks.
After emergency surgery, Freddie required a stoma bag and remained on a ventilator for eight weeks. He battled jaundice and contracted various infections, including sepsis and suspected meningitis.
His mother expressed, “The ventilator was a lifeline for him, even though it was distressing to witness. Freddie has endured significant challenges. Each time we overcame one obstacle, another one emerged. Yet, he persisted through every trial.”
Baby Freddie was eventually discharged home with his parents, Lucy and Sonny, on September 3rd, free from feeding tubes. Lucy shared, “As we mourned Charlie’s loss, we stayed resilient for Freddie. Focusing on Freddie’s recovery became our priority. He demonstrated immense bravery despite the hardships.”
She added, “Even after several months in the NICU, we were informed that Freddie might not survive due to his severe condition. However, he displayed remarkable strength, defying all odds and battling through infections, sepsis, and more.”
Reflecting on Charlie, Freddie’s deceased twin, Lucy remarked, “Our family believes that Charlie selflessly supported Freddie while they were in the womb, providing him with extra nourishment and strength to endure.”
She continued, “I firmly believe that Charlie’s sacrifice saved Freddie. Despite discouraging odds, with the additional blood and nutrients from Charlie during gestation, Freddie gained extra resilience to navigate his challenging NICU journey.”
Freddie is under close observation for cerebral palsy due to his past struggles but is currently engaging in activities like smiling, babbling, and playing with toys, according to Lucy. She commended the medical staff at Royal London Hospital and lauded the Sick Children’s Trust for providing her accommodation near the hospital during Freddie’s NICU stay. Sonny plans to run a charity half marathon next year to give back to the organization.
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