A 39-year-old mother, from King’s Lynn, Norfolk, said a final goodbye to her baby son, who she waited for 20 years, before his life support was withdrawn.
Tammy Ireson waited 20 years for a baby before delivering a baby son named Wilber in 2018.
After realizing she was expecting boyfriend Mark’s baby, Tammy was very happy as she said: “We’d only been together for three months and I worried what Mark would say.”
“I knew I’d be having this baby no matter what because it was a miracle I was pregnant in the first place.”
Wilber was delivered at 32 weeks after an emergency Caesarean section with a rare gene mutation.
His rare condition affected his muscles and caused stiffness in his joints, leaving him unable to move or breathe unaided and he needed 24-hour care.
Tammy said: “After the 20-week scan when doctors first realised something was wrong, they asked me repeatedly if I wanted to terminate my pregnancy but I said no every time.”
She believed her son deserved a shot at life and she was hopeful he will live a normal life one day.
Tammy was advised not to make too much physical contact with the baby, but Tammy said he loved being touched.
She said: “Wilber loved having his bum patted or being massaged. As the days went by, he grew stronger and like any new mum, I got to know my son.”
“I sang to him, cuddled him and cherished him. We bonded deeply and I felt so proud watching Wilber’s personality shine through”, she added.
Unfortunately, 11 weeks after his birth, Wilber suffered severe brain damage after cardiac arrest.
Finally, the parents were told to say a final goodbye to their son.
With tears in her eyes, Tammy walked down the corridor with Wilber in her arms before his life support was withdrawn.
Tammy said: “I realised that was our first and last ever walk together and I broke down. ”
The heartbreaking moment was captured by her boyfriend Mark. Tammy said they took as many pictures as they could holding and comforting Wilber.
Tammy then told Wilber told not to be scared before his life support was withdrawn.
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