Ryan Muir was left in a state of shock when girlfriend Becky Maxwell was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and underwent an emergency c-section two months before her due date.
Baby Miley-Rose Muir was born at the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital in Glasgow on December 8.
But her early arrival left the Lockerbie couple fretting about how to afford accommodation costs while their daughter stayed in the intensive care unit (ICU).
They started a GoFundMe page, appealing for financial donations, in order to raise the necessary funds to cover overnight stays near the hospital. Generous friends and family donated over £400 to the young family’s plight.
Despite a doctor’s warning their baby could be too weak to transfer to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary before Christmas, Miley-Rose made the move just before December 25.
She further delighted her parents last week when she came home for the first time on February 4, three days before her original due date.
Ryan said: “It feels such a relief now that she’s home we can settle as a family. “We actually feel like a proper family now, when you’re in and out of hospital there’s so much stuff going on you forget sometimes.”
The couple credit the kindness of their loved ones and the community for helping them get through such a difficult time.
Ryan said: “I’d like to say a massive thanks to both of our families, our friends and everyone who helped for the love and support they gave us. If it wasn’t for that, we wouldn’t have been able to cope as well as we did. We will never be able to thank people enough for their generosity.”
Looking forward to the future, he added: “Our plans for our future are to watch our wee lady grow big and strong and never miss a minute of it.”
The couple also hope to help other families in similar situations.
Ryan said: “My advice for other couples going through this would simply be to keep strong for each other.”
He added: “From our experience the doctors and nurses are very supportive. “Never hesitate to speak to them about how you’re feeling or ask them any questions you have, no matter how silly you think they may be, it’s always important to ask and they will always be happy to answer.”
Becky and Ryan are also hoping to fundraise for the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital’s ICU in the future as a thank you for everything they have done for their baby.
