Child Hero of the Year

I would like to nominate my son Jamie Quinn who is now nearly ten-months-old but is really seven-months as he was born premature – almost three months early. He was born weighing only 2 pounds, 12 ounces at 28 weeks gestation. He had jaundice and couldn’t suck a bottle so was tube-fed for seven weeks. He also needed help breathing so was on a ventilator for four weeks. He battled through two infections, with needles in his little arms, feet and even his head. He also overcame fluid retention which affected his heart and had to be resuscitated twice.

Doctors were so worried he would not make it, they rang me that night to come in to be with him. Jamie also had a heart murmur and reflux in his chest which caused him to stop breathing at times and had low oxygen levels which required an oxygen mask. He also received two blood transfusions. When he was ill, doctors had to check for every possibility so they checked for meningitis twice, by taking fluid from his spine (lumbar puncture). It was so hard to comfort him afterwards – just seeing him crying, knowing he was in pain, I would have given anything to have his pain. Before visiting him everyday for three months – on my own as I am a single parent – I would visit the church and pray my little angel would pull through and be able to come home. Unfortunately, at that time, my parents both became ill so it was such a hard, emotional and sad time for me.

Today, Jamie weighs nearly two stone and is still on medication but is a happy, healthy little boy. To me, he is the bravest, strongest, most courageous little boy I have ever known. He has come so far and his little body has battled through so much. He really is a little fighter. I call Jamie my little angel because he also helped me grow up. I owe everything to God for saving my son and I’ll always be grateful.