Leighton Hospital
Miracle baby Harry finally returns home
Crewe parents Emma and Greg Sanders say Harry would not be here at all had it not been for the care and expertise of staff at Leighton Hospital.
Baby Harry getting ready to leave Leighton Hospital with mum and dad Emma and Greg Sanders, of Aston.
A baby who spent the first 110 days of his life in Leighton Hospital has finally settled into his home with his parents.
Emma and Greg Sanders say miracle baby Harry would not be here at all had it not been for the care and expertise of staff at Leighton Hospital.
Harry was born premature, at just 29 weeks, and spent the first few weeks of his life in the hospital's high dependency unit as he fought for his life.
Mum Emma, who teaches PE and science at Abbeygate College in Chester, spent every waking minute at her young son's bedside.
Now Greg and Emma's little bundle of joy is happily settled in at his Aston home.
Emma said: "Harry came home from hospital after 110 days on the June 22. Greg and I were absolutely over the moon. It has been a long slog and the fact that Harry was finally well enough to come home was just an amazing feeling. Two days before he came home I put all of Harry's cards up – over 130 of them!"
The new family arrived to find Emma's mum and a friend had decorated the house with bunting and balloons inside and out.
"There was a bottle of bubbles on ice waiting for us too," said Emma. "It really was a special day for me and Greg, and also our close family and friends."
Emma told how day 100 was a big day for Harry and proved to be the beginning of the 'Great Escape'.
"Not only was he 100 days old but it was also the first time that he had managed a full 24 hours off oxygen. The nurses in NICU put up posters and bunting for him to celebrate."
Harry had to be able to cope off oxygen for a full seven days before he could go home.
"The following week was fantastic. As the days went by Harry seemed to get stronger and stronger," said Emma. "Turning Harry's monitor off and getting rid of all his wires felt fantastic!"
She added: "Harry really is a little fighter and we feel so very blessed. We knew it would be something of a rocky road from the beginning and I told Harry on numerous occasions that there was no rush he – could come home when he was ready!"
The move to Aston also proved an emotional one for Emma and Greg who were saying goodbye to the hospital staff who had become like second family.
"They have all quite literally saved Harry's life and given him the opportunity to experience a bright and exciting future. It is impossible to thank people properly when it really means so much," said Emma. "We have met some fantastic people at Leighton and somehow they have managed to keep me sane too! We will always hold them in the highest regard."
The family are fundraising for the hospital and Harry's cake stall at the Bhurtpore Inn, Aston, on Sunday raised £779. Emma said: "We'd like to say a big thank you to everyone and to The Bhurtpore for donating raffle prizes and letting us use their conservatory."