Iris, born on 21 November 2019, is about to celebrate her first birthday with her parents at home. She was born prematurely at 28 weeks.
“We are so very proud of our miracle baby, she is a joy, we are looking forward to spending her first birthday together at home as a family”, said mum Emma Griffin.
When she was born, Iris’s parents had been told that she would not survive.
Mrs Griffin related the challenges Iris and the family had gone through, after losing a baby boy a few months previously.
“It was touch and go from the beginning”, she said.
When Emma was six weeks pregnant, it was discovered that Iris had fluid in her lungs. Iris then had surgery in the womb to drain the fluid. When she was born at 28 weeks, she also required treatment for a collapsed lung and contracted pneumonia after two weeks.
“We were told to expect the worse… We didn’t give up and she kept on fighting. She is so very strong.”
Finally, in March the Griffins took Iris home.
Now, in November, Iris has reached a significant milestone, as Mrs Griffin said:
“Iris turning one is just amazing, because nobody thought she would get there. Her life has been hanging in the balance for so long, we were told she might never be able to walk or talk, but she is now sitting up, beginning to crawl and has even said her first word, ‘dada’.”
SPUC comment
A SPUC spokesperson said: “21 November will be a joyous day for the Griffin family. Despite the difficult year, the gift of Iris makes 2020 brighter and shows that life, given the chance, can triumph.”
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