Dudley family looking forward to celebrating Christmas after expert care from our teams
Twins Jenson and Grayson and their family are looking forward to a magical Christmas two years after they enjoyed a special christening over the festive period in our Children’s Hospital’s Chapel.
The boys now three-years-old, were born prematurely at just 24 weeks and three days old weighing 1lb 11oz and 1lb 9oz – less than an average bag of sugar.
They were cared for at our Women’s Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit during the first six months of their lives before being transferred to our Children’s Hospital.
They overcame many challenges due to be being so early, such as bronchiolitis, retinopathy of prematurity, respiratory issues and bowel perforations.
Grayson was well enough to go home a little before Jenson.
Thankfully, they are now both doing well and mum, Lindsay and dad, Liam, are now looking forward to a special Christmas at their Dudley home with their boys.
ENT Consultant Mr Channa Panagamuwa, who treated both of the boys said: “Having looked after Grayson when he was struggling to breathe, I am pleased to hear he and his brother are doing well.
“The boys really have overcome so much, and I hope they enjoy this Christmas and many more to come.”
Lindsay still remains in touch with the people who cared for her Jenson and Grayson and has recently visited our Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, High Dependency Unit (HDU) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to share treats and an updated photo of her twins.
She said: “It’s a little bittersweet looking back on it because we made such good memories, but it was also such a challenging time away from normality.
“It broke my heart having to split my time between home and the hospital. I didn’t even have the heart to put the tree up at home that first year as it didn’t feel like a family Christmas.
“The nurses made such an effort for us by helping to decorate Jenson’s room for Christmas, arranging a lounge day for us in the HDU where both boys could be together.
“I struggled to feel like a real twin mum as I wasn’t able to hold my boys together until they were 17-weeks-old. The nurses worked hard to get them together so I could rock them to sleep and read to them.
These were moments I cherished, that made up for me being away from family and not seeing the outside just so I could see my boy in hospital. To this day I still rock the boys to sleep every time they go to sleep.”
Rev Paul Nash, Senior Chaplain at our Trust, christened the boys shortly before Christmas Day 2022 on what was a special occasion for all the family.
Rev Paul said: “Jenson and Grayson are beautiful and courageous young boys. Here in Chaplaincy we have journeyed with them and their mum and dad since they were born. We are so pleased to see how well they are doing, and it is just lovely that they can be home for Christmas and enjoying all that means.
“They’ve been an inspiration. It was so lovely to see them when they popped in a few weeks ago to deliver gifts to the wards they stayed on. You’d hardly recognise them they have grown so big.
“It was wonderful that they were visiting for positive reasons and not because they need treatment or are really poorly, but to see them coming back and celebrating their life, being thankful for all that BWC has done for them and continues to do in their support. It is so encouraging to see them celebrating and enjoying Christmas.”
Lindsay said: “I chose to get the boys christened at the hospital because there was so many bad memories of all the struggles and I wanted to create some good ones.
“That was important as we obviously still have to visit the Children’s Hospital for outpatient appointments but we now have such a fantastic memory to look back on.”
Throughout their young lives, the twins have defied the odds.
Lindsay said: “The boys are doing amazing now. We lost count of the of times we had to prepare to say goodbye to the boys because of the situation they were in but but they are both babbling, learning more words and walking.
Recently, the boys have been getting in the festive spirit at nursery and dressed up in Christmas jumpers to raise money for the Children’s Hospital Charity.
“It really touched me that the school chose to raise money for the hospital that helped my boys. I couldn’t have got through any of it without the amazing Chaplaincy team, nurses and the people that supported our family.”
Lindsay, who owns a local cleaning company opened up about how challenging it was for her to stay strong for the boys. She was supported by Family Support Worker, Mary Kelly and councilor Davey, who she said were her “voice” to help her speak up and advocate for her boys.
Lindsay said: “When I was in hospital with my boys I wasn’t on my phone much, so couldn’t keep in touch with friends but the nurses were always there to listen. They gave me a voice and made me a stronger person.
“Mary Kelly deserves a medal. She went above and beyond for me and still checks in with us to this day. Some days she would come in to see me with food and hot chocolate saying I needed to eat as I can’t look after the boys without looking after myself. I am forever grateful to her.”
Everyone at our Children’s Hospital wishes Jenson, Grayson, Lindsay and Liam a very happy Christmas.