WEE Gregor Craig was given the best possible start to life thanks to staff at Campbeltown Hospital.
He was born 15-and-a-half weeks early at just 24 weeks and was given just a 10-15 per cent chance over the first 24 to 48 hours to live.
Gregor is the lightest and earliest gestational surviving baby ever to be born in Kintyre and was born on March 31, 2008 at 1.55am in Campbeltown Maternity Unit weighing just 1lb 14 ½ oz.
After being transferred to the Queen Mother’s Hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) the same morning his mum Martine (nee McGrory) and dad Keith travelled to Glasgow by car as soon as Martine was fit enough.
Martine said: ‘When we arrived in Glasgow he was hooked up to so many gadgets but cause he’s ours you see past all that. He was red raw, and looked like a ‘skinned rabbit’ as someone described him.’
Gregor had caught an infection from Martine, but he was still managing to feed through tubes. He had chest x-rays which showed up fine as well as one of his lungs, which were not properly developed so he was given oxygen.
A scan on his brain found some bleeding but nothing that wasn’t normal for premature babies and he got scans done frequently to monitor his progress. The consultant reassured the couple that everything was normal and to be expected for his age.
Gregor was due to be born on July 16, 2008, and the plan was for him to be born in Glasgow after difficulties the couple have had in the past, but this obviously changed when Martine went into labour as she was going to bed.
She said: ‘I was happy he was born in Campbeltown. If it wasn’t for them, then he wouldn’t be here. The team were pulling nurses out of their ordinary wards to help and there were five people that night who helped to save Gregor. They were pulling out all the stops.’
He remained in the Intensive Care Unit for 10 weeks in an incubator where he received help mostly with his breathing as his lungs were so immature.
Twenty weeks on he is now settled at home in Campbeltown with his proud parents, and although is still on oxygen , although this is hoped to be stopped soon. Gregor, who is medically only four weeks old is now feeding well and weighs 7 lb 14 ½ oz.
Throughout Gregor’s time in the Queen Mother Hospital, fundraising was ongoing and so far £2550 has been raised with more money still coming in.
Of this, £1000 was given to the Ronald McDonald House for a plaque on the Tree of Life, and the other money given to the Queen Mothers Special Care Baby Unit.
A digital camera and docking station was given by Gregor to Campbeltown Maternity Unit for all those mothers who are caught without a camera at the birth of their child.
‘From our mums to our brothers and sisters and cousins, loads of people have called, texted or emailed their support and best wishes,’ the couple said. ‘We would like to thank the community, family, friends and colleagues as the support, good wishes, prayers, presents, cards etc are overwhelming.
‘The biggest ‘thanks’ and really no words can express how much, must go to the team that were in Campbeltown Hospital that night – Isobel Cook, Elspeth Colville, Ann McMillan, John Mathieson and Doctor Leask. If it wasn’t for the staff in Campbeltown Hospital that night, Gregor would not be here, he would never have survived.’
