A Stirling baby born almost four months early during a seaside break in Blackpool has finally come home for the very first time three months after she arrived.
Parents Jenna Lauder, 36, and Gary Gibson, 37, were enjoying a break in the English seaside town when Jenna suddenly went into labour on July 2 this year.
She gave birth to little Hope at 6pm that same day.
The tot weighed just 2lbs 1oz and was immediately moved to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in nearby Preston.
Jenna, Gary and their son Vinnie, aged two, stayed by Hope’s side in Preston as they awaited for doctors’ approval to travel back home.
In August, the family were delighted to be able to travel back to Scotland, with Hope, mum Jenna and big brother Vinnie being flown back to Scotland – more than two months ahead of schedule – in a private plane run by charity Lia’s Wings.
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Jenna, a stay-at-home mum, is originally from Deanston, whilst Gary, who runs his own construction firm, hails from Callander.
Hope continued her treatment at Forth Valley Royal Hospital (FVRH) before she was last week finally allowed to return to the family home in Stirling.
She was discharged from hospital on Wednesday, October 2 – having spent a total of 94 days in two separate hospitals.
The growing tot now weighs 7lb 1oz as she continues to recuperate at home, under the watchful eye of loving big brother Vinnie.
Jenna this week told the Stirling Observer: “It’s amazing to finally have her home where she belongs – but it is scary not having nurses on hand anymore. Effectively we are her nurses now.
“But we are so happy to see how much she has come on and so quickly. She really is a wee fighter.”
Vinnie has also settled in well as he adapts to his new role as brother, spoiling Hope with cuddles.
Whilst they faced an uncertain future immediately after the sudden birth, residents back in Stirling banded together to raise enough funds to support the family, who were forced to take on the financial burden of spending time living near the hospital in Preston with costs adding even more stress to an already tough situation.
A whopping £6,320 was raised to cover their costs whilst they waited for Hope to fight back to fitness. Dad Gary previously told the Observer that the family had taken to living in a caravan, at a site around 20 minutes from the hospital.
Speaking to the Observer in August, after Hope was flown to FVRH, Gary said: “It’s felt like a long time coming but we’re just happy to have her home and have that support network of family and friends around us now.
“I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who donated and helped us during what was a hugely difficult time.
“We can’t thank you all enough.”
The family travelled to Blackpool for their summer holiday on Saturday June 29.
Jenna – who was just 25 weeks pregnant – began to experience some bleeding and cramps and rushed to A&E at Blackpool Hospital where it was confirmed that she was in early labour.
Jenna was then given medication to speed up the development of Hope’s vital organs and offer as much protection as possible and the tot made her appearance at 6pm that evening.
Jenna and Gary began their journey to become parents in 2018 and it has been a long and difficult road.
Both Vinnie and Hope were conceived with the help of IVF.