Gran looks to help Inverness baby unit which cared for her premature grandson
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Grandmother Joan Mackenzie has shared the touching story of her grandson's first days when he was cared for by specialist staff at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness and the job they did to help him journey home.
Launching a fundraiser for the hospital's Specialist Care Baby Unit (SCBU) she said: "On the 22nd June 2023 we were woken up with the shock news that my grandson Jude was born at 29 weeks, 10 weeks early, weighing a little 3lb 2oz.
"When he was born his lungs were not quite ready to work on their own so he was put onto a ventilator to help him along the way.
"After a long six days of just watching their wee boy everyday my daughter Erin and her partner Kevin got told they were allowed a cuddle, the moment they had been waiting for.
"Not long after their first cuddle one morning when they went into see Jude, he had been taken off his ventilator, another milestone was hit.
"On 5th July Jude was transferred from the intensive care room into the SCBU nursery, one step closer to the front door, then 10 days later he was taken out of his incubator and put into a ‘big boys cot’!"
She added: "Jude was going from strength to strength after all his brain, heart, lung scans and all the other routine tests and after a long six weeks spent in hospital, on the 3rd August they got the news they were waiting for, Jude was finally coming home. Jude has been home three weeks on 24th August and is now weighing 5lb 15oz and progressing everyday."
Talking of how she wants to give back to those who helped she said: "Every single doctor and SCBU nurse that helped Jude were absolutely amazing, they didn't just look after Jude they cared and looked out for my daughter Erin and her partner Kevin when some days seemed that little bit harder."
She wants to raise £500 via an online JustGiving appeal as a way of showing the family's appreciation and said: "Any donation is truly appreciated and will help these doctors and nurses to carry on doing the amazing work they do."
Joan is also planning to run the River Ness 10k on October 1 to raise more funds for the SCBU, adding that "Jude will be there cheering me on the whole way."
