Little Zander is inspiration to fund raisers
He may only be 15 months old but Zander Macleod has already faced many challenges in his short life.
He breathes with the help of a tracheostomy tube, is fed via a gastric tube and also has skeletal displasia which affects the growth of his legs, feet and hips.
Despite his condition, the youngster is developing into a cheerful character with a mischievous sense of fun and is now inspiring others to help improve facilities for sick children in Raigmore Hospital where he is a frequent patient.
His mother Kerry Macleod and her colleagues at the Inverness branch of the UK-wide estate agency, Amazing Results, have named the £2 million Highland Children’s Unit Appeal their charity of the year.
They have pledged to give 10 per cent of their listing and marketing fees to the appeal, launched by the ARCHIE Foundation in conjunction with The Inverness Courier to create a more child-centred and family-friendly environment. They are also planning other events including a golf day and a raffle as well as raising awarness of the appeal.
“I think Raigmore do their best - I don’t have any complaints,” said Mrs Macleod, of Burnbrae Crescent, Westhill. “The staff are brilliant. But I think the environment could do to be a bit more comfortable and a bit less clinical especially when children are staying for prolonged periods of time.”
Mrs Macleod and her husband, Alex, who have a three-year-old daughter, Freya, discovered their unborn son had problems when Mrs Macleod had her 20 week scan.
“We knew he had a small jaw and we knew he had anomalies with his skeleton but we didn’t know what they were - no one knew,” said the 27-year-old.
At 35 weeks into the pregnancy, Mrs Macleod developed pre-eclampsia and was taken by ambulance to the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow where paediatric specialists were on hand when Zander was born by caesarean section on 14th October 2013.
“It was hard going but the fact we knew there were issues during pregnancy helped prepare us slightly,” Mrs Macleod reflected.
At eight weeks old, Zander underwent an operation to have a tube inserted to keep his airway open.
He remained in Glasgow’s Yorkhill Hospital until the following February when he was transferred to Raigmore children’s ward which still provides open access as Zander is prone to chest infections and vomiting.
He has also spent time at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital.
“It was nice when we finally brought him home last March but it was nerve-wracking,” recalled Mrs Macleod for whom tasks such as changing Zander’s tracheostomy tube are now second nature.
Between them, the couple juggle their work commitments and receive up to 46 hours home support each week from NHS Highland. They are also grateful for the support and help they receive from their parents and other family members.
“Zander is not hard work but I cannot leave him with anyone who is not trained,” Mrs Macleod said. “He is healthy but he has a few issues.”
She does not know what the future holds for Zander but remains positive.
“I am pretty confident he will lose his tracheostomy - if not, there are worse things happen in the world,” she said.
“I think he probably will walk but we will just have to wait and see. He is a very happy little boy - and very mischievous!”
The new children’s unit is expected to open its doors in August. It will involve relocating the children’s ward to ward 11 which will be redeveloped and extended to bring together a range of services.
