Oh baby, it's great to have you home
Dec 17 2008 by Dave Black, The Journal
LITTLE Finn Dobbins is back home for Christmas – six weeks after he was born weighing just 3lb 3oz. His parents are now looking forward to the 'perfect' family festive season after their son spent his first month of life in hospital intensive care units.
Finn was born 11 weeks premature at the end of October in Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.
He was immediately transferred to the intensive care unit at North Tees General Hospital in Stockton, where special equipment was used to help him breathe for the first 48 hours.
After spending a week there, Finn was transferred to the special care baby unit at Ashington’s Wansbeck General Hospital, where medics continued to monitor his condition and ensure his lungs were functioning properly.
Now, after five weeks in the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust unit, he has finally been allowed home to his family in Seaton Delaval, Northumberland in time for the festive season.
It is an early Christmas present for Finn’s mum Sara Frisby, 33, dad Geoff Dobbins, 35, and older brother Rowan, three, following initial fears that he might have to stay in hospital for a longer period.
It is the second time Sara, a conservation officer with the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, has been through the stress and worry of seeing her baby arrive in the world well ahead of schedule.
Rowan was born eight weeks premature in North Tyneside General Hospital and spent more than three weeks in the special care baby unit.
Yesterday Sara, who praised the care given to Finn at Wansbeck General, said: “I only knew a week before Finn arrived that he was going to be born so early and I had previously been told it was unlikely he would be premature.
“I was given steroid injections to promote his lung development and he had to be ventilated for the first 48 hours.
“Obviously there was some concern about his lungs and the risk of infection when he arrived 11 weeks early, but he was always fairly stable.
“He is doing OK now and is eating, sleeping and filling his nappy as every baby should do.
“Finn was not due to arrive until January 13 but my instinct told me he would arrive early, after what happened with Rowan.
“We didn’t know whether Finn would be home for Christmas but, thankfully, he is, and we are hoping there are no hospital trips required.
“It’s great to have him home – it’s a perfect Christmas present. The last six weeks have been extremely difficult and we’re looking forward to a lovely family Christmas.”
Dad Geoff, an estates officer with Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said: “It’s brilliant to have Finn home and it’s nice for us all to be together. Rowan’s especially made up he’s home.”
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