Miracle baby born with Covid celebrates first birthday

A baby girl born with Covid-19 at Blackpool Victoria Hospital while her mum was fighting for her life, turned one year old this week.

Ruby Dawson, weighed only 4lb 12oz when she arrived by emergency caesarean while mum Kathrine was sedated and on a ventilator fighting for her life with Covid-19.

One year on and Ruby is thriving – she goes to nursery with her sister Ava and mum Katherine has started a new job.

Katherine, 37 from Garstang, now works for a global pharmaceutical company and couldn’t be happier.

She said: “I actually only started my new job last week when I came off maternity leave and I’m loving it. After last year, I wanted to do something to help people and working in this industry, I am ultimately helping save lives.

“Ruby is a fiery redhead but she is always smiling, independent and always happy. You would never guess how little she weighed when she was born.

“Looking back, the experience last year doesn’t seem real. I feel so healthy and Ruby has hit all her milestones and life has gone back to normal.”

The ordeal started in March 2020 when 32-week pregnant Kathrine was taken to A&E with what she thought was a chest infection. As she had been self-isolating for three weeks she did not think she had caught COVID-19.

But after a swab it was discovered she had Coronavirus and a decision was made to deliver the baby by caesarean section to give them both the best chance.  Ruby was born on April 1 weighing 4lb 12oz and was also COVID-19 positive.

Kathrine’s condition deteriorated and she had to be put into an induced coma and put onto a ventilator. Her chances of survival were 50/50 at that time.

Visiting restrictions meant Kathrine’s husband, Stuart could not be with her and ITU consultant, Dr Jason Cupitt kept him updated daily on Katherine’s condition and the neonatal department sent him a daily diary on Ruby’s progress.

Stuart could not visit either of them because of the Coronavirus and he had 26 days of waiting, worrying and stress. Dr Jason’s updates and the daily diaries from neonatal were a lifeline.

Last year, when mum and baby were discharged after 37 days in hospital, staff from delivery suite, the neonatal unit, A&E and the COVID ITU formed a guard of honour to see the family safely on their way home.

To celebrate Ruby’s first birthday, Katherine and Stuart and sisters Grace, 4 and Ava, 1 will be having a small party in the garden and when restrictions are lifted, the family plan a day at the zoo.

Katherine added: “I’ve been given a second chance at life and it’s one I will live without regrets.

All the Blackpool Victoria staff involved with our care have been in my thoughts. Without them, we wouldn’t be here.”

Yesterday, Katherine, Stuart and Ruby spoke to Dr Jason Cupitt and Shelley Piper, Head of Hospital Based Services, Families Division, via a virtual Teams meeting where they had a chance to see catch up together one year later.

Dr Cupitt said: “Katherine was one of our first really poorly patients who was young and was in unusual circumstances so a lot of us will always remember her. It’s nice to see them 12 months on – it’s hard to believe where Katherine and Ruby were this time last year.

Baby Ruby at home

Baby Ruby at home

“I was determined to make sure that Stuart would not be a single parent – the team just were not going to allow that to happen. It was a privilege to be able to do what we did for them.”

Shelley Piper said: “It’s really lovely to see the family. Last year everyone was so scared and there didn’t seem to be much hope, but Katherine’s and Ruby’s case was so positive and such a lovely final outcome for everybody. The neonatal staff really took Ruby under their wing, they even called her room the ‘Ruby Room’.”

To celebrate Ruby’s first birthday, Katherine and Stuart and sisters Grace, 4 and Ava, 1, will be having a small party in the garden and when restrictions are lifted, the family plan a day at the zoo.

Katherine added: “I’ve been given a second chance at life and it’s one I will live without regrets.

“All the Blackpool Victoria staff involved with our care have been in my thoughts – everyone at Blackpool has been amazing. Without them, we wouldn’t be here.”

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