Sheffield Hospitals work together to reunite mother and father at the birth of thier child
A paralysed father and his wife were reunited for the first time in six weeks with the birth of their daughter.
Jordan Anderson, 24, was paralysed from the ribcage down
after an abscess burst in his spinal cord just a month before his wife, Emily
Anderson was to give birth.
Mr Anderson said: “I was more upset at the concept of not
being at Elsie’s birth than me losing the ability to move and use most of my
body.”
The injury meant that Mr Anderson required 24-hour
specialist care at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. This was 20 miles away from
where Ms Anderson, 23, was to have her daughter in Chesterfield Royal Hospital.
The hospitals worked together to enable Mr Anderson to be
with Ms Anderson during the birth.
He said: “I can’t thank everyone enough for helping me to be
there with Emily at one of the most important moments of our lives.”
Their daughter Elsie was delivered through an emergency
C-section which was when one of the porters brought Jordan into the theatre to
be there at the birth.
The hospital enabled Mrs Anderson an extended stay at the
hospital which gave the couple some time together to bond with their daughter.
Mrs Anderson said: “They’ve moved heaven and earth to give
us such a precious week together as a family.”
Jemma
Cox, Mrs Anderson’s midwife said: “Not having him here was a source of anxiety
for Emily so the two hospitals came together to see if it was something that
could be made possible.”
After spending some time with his wife and daughter, Jordan
was transferred to the Princess Royal Spinal Cord Injuries Centre at Sheffield
Teaching Hospitals where will continue with his physiotherapy for the next few
months.
The two hospitals coordinated through several virtual
meetings to allow the couple to be together on their due date which involved up
to 20 clinicians.
Simon Towers, Chesterfield Royal Hospital communications
advisor said: “It was the attitude and willingness to make it happen that underpinned
the clinical ‘know how’.”
Alina
Vais, consultant obstetrician, said: “We’re delighted to have been able to work
together to help make this precious and unforgettable moment possible.”
Written for ShefLive
