NEWBORN SUFFERED LIVER FAILURE, COLLAPSED LUNGS AND STILL SURVIVED

A 16 year old teenage mum has thanked the dedicated staff at a Teesside hospital for saving the life of her baby son who was born weighing just two pounds. Delivered at 26 weeks tiny Levi-Haydon Smith suffered multiple complications, including kidney failure, two collapsed lungs, fluid on the lung and jaundice.

But after spending nearly eight weeks being cared for at Stockton’s University Hospital of North Tees, Levi-Haydon is now back home in the arms of relieved mum Carla.
Now Carla, 16, and the baby’s grandma Joy, want to express their gratitude to the Neonatal Intensive Care unit that was only last year threatened with closure.

NHS England argued that North Tees was too small to justify designation as an LNU (Local Neonatal Unit) and recommended in October its NIC beds be transferred to Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital.

The move sparked an outcry from parents and staff and more than 7,000 people signed an online petition against the threatened closure.

Then in December NHS England reassured that the unit at North Tees will now not be “significantly downgraded”.

Carla told The Gazette today:

“If it wasn’t for North Tees neonatal unit then my Levi-Haydon would possibly not be here today.

“They take such great care in looking after all of the babies that they deal with each day, they don’t miss anything, they are all so friendly and professional.

“I could not thank them enough for everything that they have done for me and my son.”

Carla was transferred to North Tees from her home in Carlisle in a blue lit ambulance at just 26 weeks in November. Carlisle does not have an intensive care baby unit.
Levi-Haydon was born at 9.20pm on Sunday, November 15.

“He was absolutely tiny,” said Carla. “He’s really been through a lot. It was horrible. He’s had kidney failure, his left and right lung collapsed, he had fluid on his lungs and he’s also had jaundice. “But they have done so well at North Tees, the staff are amazing.”

After nearly two months in Stockton, little Levi-Haydon was transferred back to Carlisle’s special care baby unit, and last week was allowed to go home with his mum.
Carla said her son “is now doing great” - and he still only weighs 3lbs 5 ounces!
Said his gran Joy Smith:

“We can’t thank them enough at North Tees - both the delivery ward and Ward 23 intensive care ward.

“They have been amazing. We honestly can’t thank them enough.”

North Tees neonatal unit ward matron Debbie Bryan said:

“We’re delighted that thanks to the care Levi-Haydon had from staff in the unit he was able to go home with his family.”