The family of a four-month-old baby boy who had a “rough start” into the world are looking forward to a special Christmas together.
Little Charlie Edward Keenan was born five weeks early on August 19 following complications during mum Rochelle’s pregnancy.
He spent time in intensive care but is now a happy, healthy baby and is set to make Christmas extra special for his family, while also bringing festive cheer to care home residents.
Rochelle McGavin, 24, and dad Charlie Keenan, also 24, will take him to Forrest House care home in Glasgow, where little Charlie’s gran works, before spending the rest of the day with doting relatives.
Rochelle said: “He had a rough start into the world and was in the intensive care so every holiday and occasion I am trying to make so special for him.
“My partner goes to the care home as Santa every year and hands out Christmas presents.
“We’ll be doing that this year and bringing Charlie along. He’s been along before and the residents love him.”
The couple are determined to make this Christmas special after Charlie’s difficult start.
Rochelle said: “I have type 1 diabetes and also had pre-eclampsia which is what triggered an emergency c-section.
“Despite being early, he was a big baby at 8lb 4oz. The issue was that his organs weren’t growing but his body was.
“I went into the Royal Alexandra Hospital and they told me he would be born that day and that I’d be having an emergency section.
“I was crying. His cot hadn’t even been built and while I was at the hospital, my partner was at home getting it set up!”
Minutes after being born, Charlie was rushed into ICU and Rochelle couldn’t see him until the following day.
She continued: “That was so hard. He had to go into intensive care because he couldn’t breathe.
“When we got to see him, he had jaundice and a wee feeding tube.
“It was so difficult seeing all the other mums with their babies while I couldn’t be with Charlie.”
The newborn was well enough to be brought to the ward by day six but he was rushed back into ICU after dad Charlie noticed him become pale. Rochelle explained: “He was with me the first night and then the following morning, my partner noticed that he looked a bit pale.
“He asked a nurse to have a look at him and she picked him up and ran away with him.
“About 20 minutes later, the doctor came and told us his oxygen levels were low again and went back into ICU.”
Charlie was well enough to go home a few days later but he was back in hospital again at Halloween.
Rochelle said: “Doctors said his oesophagus was soft. Then he was really dehydrated and he wouldn’t eat so he was back in again and needed to have a feeding tube.
“He struggled to grow at first but in the last month or so, he has been growing and is starting to sit up by himself.
“He is a wee chunk now and is doing really well. He just needed a wee jump start.”
