STV NewsThe parents of a “miracle” baby born over three months early have thanked blood donors for saving her life.
Delivered at just 26 weeks in January and weighing only 2.1lbs, Alexandria Allyson needed four transfusions to survive her first days.
After spending over three months in hospital, she was finally strong enough to go home with her parents in Dunfermline, Fife.
Mum Nicolle Hollick recalled visiting hospital on the evening of New Year’s Day with severe cramps, though no issues were detected at first.
“They said everything looked okay, so we went home. But my instinct kept telling me something wasn’t right.”
Within 24 hours they were back. Doctors were able to confirm Nicolle’s waters had broken – and she was blue-lighted to Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
She was kept in the ward for two weeks and Alexandria was born via an emergency C-section on January 15 this year.
“Alexandria was tiny – she fitted across my hands when she was first born,” said Nicolle.
“She was intubated at birth. For the first 72 hours she couldn’t be lifted or moved to protect her brain. That was quite scary.”
Nicolle described the early days as a “waiting game” of X-rays and blood tests.
“It was terrifying – we didn’t know what was going to happen. We didn’t know if we were going to get her home or not.”
Alexandria underwent four blood transfusions, which Nicolle described as “life-saving”.
“If that blood hadn’t been available to her, without a doubt she wouldn’t be sitting here blowing raspberries. It gave her a chance at a life, and we are so incredibly grateful.”
STV NewsAlexandria finally came home at the end of April, weighing 6.5lbs. She needed oxygen support at home for the first few months.
“It was like having a newborn at three-and-a-half months old,” Nicolle said. “It was just great to have her with us properly, to actually really start our life as a family.
“Her dad Dan and I believe she is our total miracle and our warrior princess. She kept fighting. She’s been through so much in her wee life already.
“We absolutely cannot wait to celebrate her first Christmas and her first birthday. To be able to make those memories and be with her is just amazing. She’s the most happy, content little girl.”
Scottish National Blood Transfusion ServiceNicolle is backing an appeal urging people to give blood as figures show active donation has fallen to 1.7% of the population.
“I didn’t realise the importance of it until she needed it,” she added. It only takes three teaspoons to save a premature baby’s life. It’s half an hour of your time.”
The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) campaign comes as latest figures show the number of people actively donating has fallen to 1.7% of the population.
The service is asking people to register as a donor and book a blood donation appointment now to help build vital blood stocks during the busy winter and Christmas period.
There are currently 93,097 active blood donors in Scotland.
‘I got to see my girl’s stage debut thanks to a blood donor’
STV NewsA mum with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma says a blood donor saved her Christmas, allowing her to escape the ward just in time to see her daughter’s “irreplaceable” stage debut.
Kelly Butler, 35, from Aberdeen, was diagnosed with blood cancer in September last year.
“I think when I initially heard I had lymphoma, my brain kind of shut off a little bit. I wasn’t focused on the big cancer issue; I was more focused on what I could do about it.”
But the reality of chemotherapy soon hit hard, requiring multiple inpatient hospital stays.
“I think my brain did a lot of protecting, keeping me calm,” said Kelly. “But I think when everyone hears the word cancer, you think the worst: ‘Oh my God, chemo, losing your hair, potential of losing your life,’ and everything runs through your brain like that really quickly.”
STV NewsThe gruelling treatment meant Kelly often had to spend 24 hours a day attached to a drip, with only a 20-minute break for a shower.
The difficulty was compounded by the fact that her young daughter, then only seven, could not visit the ward.
“I was already aware my cancer was affecting her a lot – seeing me lose my hair, now me being in hospital attached to all these machines all the time.” I was very unwell.
“She had already seen too much of what cancer was doing to me.
“I just kind of fibbed to her that it was the longest ever holiday away from each other.”
The lowest point came around Christmas. Kelly’s immune system had been severely damaged due to the chemotherapy, dropping her white blood cell counts and confining her to hospital while her daughter was preparing to dance in her local panto for the first time.
Being unable to properly support her little girl was difficult.
“Her dad and my amazing parents helped out with everything, but as a mum, you’re missing out on important moments,” she added.
Doctors tried to restore Kelly’s white blood cell levels, but nothing worked. Eventually, they decided to administer a blood transfusion.
She described the impact as “monumental” – and she was able to get home from hospital in time to see daughter Millie dance in the panto.
STV News“Getting to see her perform for the first time on stage – it was just these little life things, the milestone of my life last year. An irreplaceable moment.
“Without that donation, who decided to go that day, it would have really had a massive impact on my family. It meant the world to me.”
This year, Kelly will be able to spend the festive season at home with her family, having completed her treatment earlier in the year.
Millie is also set to star in this year’s panto – this time, with Kelly excited to take on a hands-on role.
“I’m like Kris Jenner – a momager. I can’t wait to be more of a part of it all! I’m making a bigger deal out of Christmas this year – it’s going to be really special.”
Kelly, a blood donor herself since college, says she is encouraging everyone to donate blood.
“I always thought it was for emergency situations; I never associated it with cancer patients at all. But I’ve learned is it’s such a big part of cancer patients’ journeys.
“It doesn’t feel like a big deal when you’re in there – you don’t know the impact it has on the person receiving the blood. But for the person receiving it, it’s massive. Everyone should be encouraged to do it.”
STV NewsDebbie McNaughton, associate director of donor and transport services at SNBTS, said: “Every day, Scotland needs around 450 blood donors to meet the needs of patients in hospitals across the country. However, fewer people are donating than before, and that puts pressure on Scotland’s blood supply.
“I am urging both new and returning donors to come forward to help ensure lifesaving blood is always available.
“The fact less than 2% of the population are actively giving blood is a concerning trend. In the last 10 years we have seen a drop of 24% – which is just under 30,000 donors. We are also seeing a particular challenge around younger people coming forward.
“The blood supply has been maintained by our regular donors giving more often, but we really need new donors, or those who have not given for some time, to come forward.”
SNBTS said a key reason for the decline is simply lack of awareness about the importance of blood donation.
There are eight different blood groups and the service aims to retain five to seven days supply of all eight blood groups at all times.
It said that blood has a short shelf life of 35 days, making regular donations vital to maintaining supplies.
Ms McNaughton said: “Our Donor Centres, which are based across Scotland, aim to collect almost 40% of Scotland’s blood this December.
“In recent months, these donor centres have been quiet. With convenient opening times and locations, I’m asking the people of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, to remember about giving blood.
“We’d love to welcome workplaces, groups and clubs.”
Appointments can be booked online at www.scotblood.co.uk or by calling 0345 90 90 999.
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