Baby boy doubles in size during pneumonia survival fight
Graham Gibson • Published 20 Apr 2012 08:35
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A DUNFERMLINE family whose baby boy doubled in size as he battled for survival against pneumonia are raising cash for the docs who saved his life.
In April last year Neeson Scott was just 14-months-old when he was rushed to the Sick Kids Hospital in Edinburgh by ambulance.
X-rays and ultrasounds discovered he had severe pneumonia in his left lung. Within 48 hours of being admitted into the High Dependency Unit, Neeson was in theatre fighting for his life.
Mum Helena, of Merlin Drive, explained, "His body doubled in size through a build-up of fluid. It was crushing his organs and he was beyond recognition. Our son spent the next eight weeks fighting for his life.
"During his time in intensive care (six weeks in total, two weeks on Ward 1), Neeson spent 14 days on a ventilator, went through five surgical procedures and had three blood transfusions.
"The pneumonia spread quickly to his right lung. He developed pleural effusion, a punctured lung, underlying pneumonia, with necrotic areas of lung, pneumococcus and parainfluenza type 3.
"It was the darkest time of our lives. I've never felt desperation like it, willing him to pull through."
Helena and husband John took photos of Neeson when he was in hospital to prepare their 14-year-old daughter Ashleigh before she actually saw her brother after his first operation.
John recalled, "For two months Helena lived at the hospital. I stayed for the first two weeks but had to go back to work so travelled over to the hospital every night and stayed every weekend.
"We can't believe how close we came to losing him.
"I remember calling my parents late one night telling them to bring Ashleigh to the hospital because we thought we were going to lose him.
"It was horrific. Something no parent should ever have to experience."
Neeson was walking before he fell ill but had to learn everything all over again, from lifting his own head by himself to rolling over.
He has yet to be given the all-clear and has a CT scan booked in for Tuesday, one year to the day since he was first admitted.
Neeson will be put under anaesthetic for the procedure and a meeting will then be held a week later with his doctors to discuss his progress.
John added, "A lot has happened in the last year for us. We were planning our wedding for September 2011 which we nearly cancelled.
"Helena cancelled her hen night abroad and we had to cancel our honeymoon as we had arranged for our kids to come with us but Neeson is not allowed to fly.
"But none of that matters. We still have our son and we are forever grateful to the medical team at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children for helping save his life.
"Our fund-raiser is the least we can do for them."
The wedding pictures were taken in September, a mere three months after Neeson was discharged.
The Scotts are organising a family fun day for Edinburgh's Sick Kids Hospital at Rosyth Civil Service Club on Saturday 7th July.
The fund-raiser will include a football tournament, bouncy castles, face-painting and food. In the evening there will be a Stars In Their Eyes competition along with a disco and an auction.
Helena added, "This means so, so very much to us and the support we've received from family, friends and even strangers has been absolutely phenomenal.
"This will also be our way of saying thank-you to them for their support and well wishes, by giving them a fun day out for the whole family."
The family would like this to become an annual event and would be keen to hear from any local company that would like to sponsor the fund-raiser.
To get in touch please visit www.justgiving.com/Helena-Scott or call 07969917919.
This article appeared in Dunfermline Press 20 Apr 12
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