Miracle Baby Given One Day to Live Reaches 1st Birthday | “He Brings So Much Joy to So Many People”

A mom from Edinburgh couldn't be prouder of her "miracle baby" who defied all odds to celebrate his first birthday after being told he had only one day to live. Marie Clare Tully gave birth to her son Hector prematurely at just 23 weeks and doctors didn't the infant would make it. "I saw him when he was born and gave him a kiss and then he was wrapped in plastic to keep him warm and rushed to the resuscitation department," the 41-year-old told BBC Scotland. "I felt devastation at not being able to be with him. I was heartbroken that we couldn't be with him in those crucial early moments." She explained that her son's "case is unique as he has extra complications due to his prematurity. He has also been very unlucky as the shunt inside his head keeps blocking." 

The little boy was born with hydrocephalus, which means spinal fluid cannot flow around the body, due to bleeding in the brain. The infant also has chronic lung disease, retinopathy, a feeding tube and centralized sleep apnoea. The one-year-old has already had 15 operations and has been rushed to the emergency room over 25 times. In fact, he's spent 259 nights of his life in hospital. After spending 42 days on a ventilator doctors gave the family some good news: he was going to live.

"When I heard, I let out a wail that came from the bottom of my soul, I can't articulate it, it was the greatest feeling in the world," she told the outlet. "There was still a long way to go but to know the team thought he was going to survive was so great." Clare and her husband Angus, who is the director of music at Fettes College, are in awe of their “miracle baby”.  Clare gushed, "I feel like the luckiest person, he's so fun, he brings so much joy to so many people. I'm so proud of him. He is a miracle, he is beyond a miracle and I am so proud of him." The mom is also grateful for all the support she's received during tough times, especially from the staff at the hospital.  "It is because of everyone's positive prayers that he has been pulled through and we have made sure to surround him with all the love and joy and hope so that he feels absolutely adored. We make sure every day is great for him," she said, adding,  "Some days have been so difficult. He's had drains coming out of his head and I've not been allowed to lift him but the care he has had at the hospital has been incredible."

References:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-63705516

Representational Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Jamie Grill