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Tiny Baby 'Graduates' From Intensive Care After Being Born Three Months Early

Tiny Baby 'Graduates' From Intensive Care After Being Born Three Months Early

Parents Ellie Barr and Hassan Mockbill were told to say their goodbyes to baby Haris – until he miraculously pulled through.

Ciara Sheppard

Ciara Sheppard

The parents of a tiny baby born at 24 weeks were told to say their goodbyes when doctors thought they couldn't save him.

However, Ellie Barr and Hassan Mockbill, from Birmingham, amazingly ended up celebrating his 'graduation' from intensive care after spending 13 weeks in hospital when the little one pulled through as seen in this adorable video:

Haris Mockbill was born three and a half months early weighting just 750g (that's less than a bag of sugar FYI) and given an almost zero chance at survival by doctors.

The premature baby was wrapped in bubble wrap to stabilise his temperate when he was born, and his lungs were so underdeveloped he was unable to breathe on his own.

Also born with chronic lung disease, Haris' condition plummeted at just two weeks old when his lungs filled with fluid, and his distraught parents were told to say their final goodbyes.

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"We were told we were going to lose him. He was really struggling to breathe and his body was shutting down," Ellie recalled.

"We had a priest go into the hospital to baptise him because we thought it would have been our last day with him.

"I tried to cling on to hope but the doctor said most babies as poorly as Haris was just don't make it."

But unbelievably, after doctors made a last ditch attempt at saving him by administering a strong course of steroids, Haris pulled through.

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Haris then spent the following 11 weeks getting better in the NICU unit at Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham.

To celebrate Haris moving from an intensive care incubator to a special care ward where he was upgraded to a cot, the parents decided to throw a graduation for their baby.

They dressed Haris in a tiny gown, complete with a hat and scroll purchased from a teddy bear factory as it was the only thing that would fit him.

SWNS

"When he pulled through we just could not believe it. I wanted to make sure I did something special when he was getting better," Ellie added.

"We bought him a little gown and a hat. He looked so cute and it's a special memory for us now. When we look back at the photo we realise how far he has come."

Ellie, who has a two-year-old son, Elias, suffered a traumatic pregnancy including frequent bleeding for which she had to be taken to A&E for multiple times.

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On 9th July 2018, after experiencing heavier bleeding than usual, Haris - due to be born on 26th October - "decided it was time".

"The birth was really traumatic. It was lucky we were in the right place at the right time," community worker Ellie said.

"He just decided he was coming. I had to push. We had no idea if he was alive or not. We weren't allowed to hold him at all and he was taken off into a separate room.

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"I couldn't hold him until he was ten days old, it was horrible. The first couple of days were crucial and we had no idea if he would make it or not."

After being close to death, Haris was given an eight-day course of strong steroid drugs to clear the fluid from his lungs.

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However, a scan of his brain showed a grade 4 bleed meaning little Haris may grow to develop a disability.

"There's nothing we can do to help him with that and he might grow up with a disability", said Ellie who also has a nine-year-old son, Kaysan.

"It was hard to take but as long as he's still with us and not in pain, that's all that matters.

"When he pulled through we just couldn't believe it. He has never stopped fighting."

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Just 19 days later, Haris was allowed to go home, but his parents had to look after him around the clock as he still wasn't breathing independently.

By the time Haris turned one-year-old in July this year, he was fully recovered.

Ellie describes him as a "little terror" who brings a smile to the face of whoever he meets.

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"He is a true inspiration and I am so proud of him. We had a massive party for him on his first birthday," the proud mum said.

"He has beaten the odds and overcome everything that was thrown at him. He never gave up.

"We are a perfect little family now and it was so worth all of the fighting.

"We never gave up hope."

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Aged one, Haris now weighs more than one stone and has taken his very first steps.

Now, Ellie and Hassan are campaigning to raise awareness of World Prematurity Day (17th November), and are working on raising awareness of the difficulties of parenting a premature baby.

Haris, you're an inspiration to us all!

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: Life, Real Life