Shropshire Star

First Christmas at home for son given 50 per cent chance of survival

Couple says charity’s Home from Home accommodation helped them be with their baby in hospital.

Published
Alexander Jones at Christmas

A couple who were told their premature baby son had only a 50% chance of survival say they are looking forward to their first Christmas with him at home.

Alexander Jones, who is now one-year-old, weighed 2lb 6oz when he was born at just 27 weeks.

His parents, Daniel and Vicky Jones, were told he had a 50% chance of survival and a 50% chance of something going wrong if he did survive, according to The Sick Children’s Trust.

Now they are supporting a charity fundraiser to provide places for families of sick children to stay when they are in hospital.

Alexander Jones with his parents
Alexander Jones with his mum and dad (Jones family/PA)

Alexander spent last Christmas seriously ill in hospital but Mr and Mrs Jones, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, say they are now looking forward to a first Christmas at home with their son.

Mr Jones said the ordeal of Alexander’s first few weeks of life in Leeds General Infirmary was eased when he was able to access “Home from Home” accommodation provided by The Sick Children’s Trust.

Now the couple are supporting the charity’s Christmas appeal.

Mr Jones said: “Having your child in hospital really takes its toll.

Vicky Jones with Alexander
Vicky Jones with Alexander last Christmas (Jones family/PA)

“When you’re not worried about whether your child will survive, you become worried about everything else that’s making them poorly.”

He said: “We were able to be by Alexander’s side as much as possible, holding his hand through the incubator, touching his head and feet, talking to him and giving him cuddles – cuddles which really did a lot to help his tiny body grow stronger.”

Mr Jones, who works for Lloyds Banking Group, described how Alexander’s first few weeks in Leeds meant he had to leave his son and wife every night as there was nowhere for him to stay.

He said he faced a daily 40-minute journey each way and the trying to find parking in Leeds city centre.

“It added so much stress to the situation, especially when Vicky would call to tell me Alexander really wasn’t doing well,” he said.

The couple stayed for two weeks at Eckersley House, in Leeds, before Alexander was transferred to Pinderfields Hospital, in Wakefield, where he spent his first Christmas.

He said: “Alexander has just celebrated his first birthday and you’d never know how poorly he was. We’re beginning to look forward to this Christmas, which will be Alexander’s first spent at home.”

The Sick Children’s Trust said it expects that every room across its 10 Homes from Home will be full this Christmas with families who are caring for some of the UK’s sickest children.

The charity’s Christmas appeal – My Christmas Wish – aims to raise £13,230, which is the amount needed to run the Home from Homes over the festive period.

Trust Head of Operations Joy Darling, said: “No child should wake up on Christmas morning alone and without their family around them.

“But this will be the reality for many poorly children in hospital as their families face long journeys to be by their hospital bedside on the most magical day of the year.

“A donation of £30 will give a family a place to stay in one of our Homes from Home this Christmas, just moments from their sick child’s bedside.”

Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/campaign/mychristmaswish or by calling 020 7638 4066.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.