A baby in Torfaen, Wales, was born five months early. Because of her extremely early arrival, she weighed only 11 ounces at birth, could fit in one hand, had hands smaller than a fingertip, and had veins the size of a piece of string. To keep her organs warm and safe, the baby, whose name is Robyn, was put in a sandwich bag as she grew, reported BBC.
Now, after 18 months in the hospital, Robyn was finally able to go home with her family. Robyn still faces a lot of health challenges and requires round-the-clock care, but her parents are enjoying having her at home.
More from CafeMom: Dad Allegedly Sold 11-Month-Old Baby on Facebook to Help Pay Off Gambling Debt
When Robyn arrived early, her parents didn't know if she would survive.
Chantelle, 33, gave birth to her baby just 23 weeks into her pregnancy. In addition to being placed in a sandwich bag to keep her organs warm, Robyn relied on a ventilator to breathe, per BBC. At one point, she developed sepsis and required multiple transfusions.
According to a fundraising page started by her parents, Robyn experienced hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy at birth and has severe brain damage because of it. Robyn’s dad, Daniel, 38, told BBC that he and Chantelle didn’t know about Robyn’s brain damage until about six months after she was born.
“When Robyn was born, we we weren’t sure if she was going to make it,” Chantelle told BBC.
At first, the baby's parents were scared to take her out of the incubator.
Chantelle and Daniel held their baby when she was born, but while she was in the hospital after her birth, the parents tried to avoid taking her out of the incubator because of the risk of infection. Though they couldn’t hold her that time, they were able to reach their hands into the incubator, the parents explained to BBC.
“Her hands were so, so small at the time,” Daniel told the outlet. “They were not even the size of the tips of our fingers, so she could just about put her hand over them. It was amazing, it was just so special.”
More from CafeMom: Newborn Baby Dies After Being Bitten By 1 of Familyβs 3 βBig Dogsβ
After 18 months in the hospital, Robyn went home for the first time.
On social media, Robyn’s parents have been documenting her journey. On September 17, they shared that Robyn was finally able to go home for the first time since her birth in March 2023.
“After 558 days in hospital Robyn was discharged yesterday and is now home permanently ππ»π‘πππ₯°β€οΈππ»,” they captioned the post adding that, “the last 18 months have been the most hardest and exhausting months of our lives. There have been many times we thought we would never get to take her home. So many times we thought this day would never come.”
Daniel told NorthWalesLive that after so much time spent in the hospital, it’s nice to “finally spend time as a family.”
Robyn still requires round-the-clock care.
Although she was finally able to return home about 18 months after her extremely early birth, Robyn still faces numerous health challenges. According to the family’s fundraising page, Robyn gets food through a nasogastric tube. She has multiple conditions, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and severe apnea. On September 28, Robyn’s parents shared that Robyn “is still having seizures daily.”
They’ve called their daughter the “bravest, strongest little warrior.”
“We have been told she may not talk, see, walk, eat or live an independent life,” the parents wrote on their fundraising page. “We believe we can combat this with the right treatments and therapies and enable Robyn to live life to the fullest.”
Now, Robyn has been home for nearly four weeks.
In an Instagram update shared on October 14, Robyn’s parents wrote that their daughter has been home for about four weeks now. “We have been home for almost 4 weeks and they have been the best 4 weeks,” the update reads. “Since being home we have gone out for a few walks in the fresh air which Robyn also seems to enjoy.”
They also discussed her current treatments and therapies, adding that, “itβs spooky season which only means one thing β lots of dress up and arts/crafts for Robyn! Robyn canβt go trick or treating or pumpkin picking but we make sure she doesnβt miss out on experiencing the fun!”
The parents told BBC that they’re trying to remain positive β an outlook that shows throughout their fundraising page. “We already know how much of a warrior Robyn is and how much she has overcome,” they wrote. “Whilst in hospital she has fought an incredible battle including getting off the ventilator multiple times, sepsis, 16 blood transfusions, lumbar punctures and abdominal surgery to name a few.”
