Baby Hunter VaunHOULSTONMy heart has never felt so heavy as it does now writing this. Our beautiful baby was due to be born on August 15th, we'd planned it so he could have a summer birthday, and I was so excited that he was due a day before mine! It would have been the best birthday present ever.
Just like me, he was pretty impatient, and after a couple of scans at the hospital, surprised us by coming a whole 3 months early. Our beautiful baby boy, Hunter Vaun Houlston, was born on May 14th at 11:34am, weighing only 1.2lb, via emergency c section. With arriving so early we were so terrified and didn't even think he'd make his journey into the world, but the tiniest little cry made our hearts burst and let us know he was here . As he was so premature, he was rushed to the neonatal unit, had lines and cannulas inserted, was put on a ventilator, scans and blood tests, the lot. We were allowed to see him briefly together, but thanks to covid, I was whisked away to the wards to recover from surgery, and Aaron was sent home. We weren't allowed to visit him together, we weren't even allowed in the hospital at the same time, it was terrifying, but we got into a pattern of taking turns to visit our little boy. We were allowed to hold him once.
He was doing so well, and we kept focusing on the positives, but he developed sepsis and really struggled to fight it. He was blue lighted to Liverpool Women’s Hospital, and they were all so amazing and on the ball with doing what they could for him, I was just in awe of them all. About a week into his infection, the consultants asked us to call our parents in to meet Hunter, and were telling us they didn't think he was going to make it. We were devastated, and terrified, but somehow still focusing on the positives, willing him to push through. He had so many wires coming in and out of him, we didn't know where one began and one ended. The hospital staff were doing everything they could, and our baby boy shocked everyone and pulled through it! He was an absolute fighter, and stronger than anyone I've ever met or ever will. We thought we were in the clear, but sadly he appeared to develop a new infection about a week later.
On Tuesday evening, his heart rate began to drop drastically, and they pulled the emergency alarms, and about 30 doctors and nurses came running in and all worked together to do what they could for our baby boy. Sat in that chair next to him watching everything go on around us was the most terrifying blur. They resuscitated him twice, but sadly on the 3rd attempt, he wasn’t strong enough to pull through.
Our beautiful, strong, brave little baby boy passed away in our arms. 2 months to the day before he was even due to be born. He was and forever will be so SO loved. Our hearts have never felt so broken.
A private funeral by invitation will take place at Colwyn Bay Crematorium. Donations will be gratefully received for The Big Tiny Steps Appeal following the link below, or c/o Lord-Brown & Harty Funeral Directors, 12 Trinity Square, Llandudno LL30 2RA. Tel 01492 588585 www.lbandh.co.uk
Notify me with new activity on this notice