Dougie’s First Christmas

For most families, a baby born at Christmastime just adds to the magic of the festive season – especially taking them home for their first family Christmas…but it’s not always quite so straight forward. 

In 2024, first-time parents Poppy and Tim were getting ready to meet their baby boy, who was due to be delivered by planned c-section, after scans and tests has flagged a few genetic markers. 

On 23 December, as planned, the couple received the best Christmas present they could have asked for as baby Dougie entered the world. However, when one of our midwives noticed Dougie had an enlarged tongue and needed further tests, the new family realised they wouldn’t be making it home for the Christmas they’d planned. 

Though the new family’s first days in their newborn bubble didn’t look quite as they had imagined, Tim was allowed to stay with Poppy and Dougie in a private side-room, the team of midwives around them made sure they had everything they needed to celebrate their first Christmas, and Dougie even received his first visit from Santa in the hospital. 

When Dougie’s test came back, they confirmed he had a condition called Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS), a genetic over-growth disorder, which explained his bigger than usual tongue, and a later discovery of an enlarged kidney. 

Thankfully, after his diagnosis and a referral to our Children’s Hospital where his care continues, Dougie was allowed home with his proud parents on 30 December – just in time to celebrate the New Year. 

Tim said: “We didn’t anticipate spending Christmas in hospital when we went in to have Dougie and although it was quite a worrying time as we waited for his test results, the incredible hospital staff really did make it as special a time as it possibly could be. 

“They were so supportive – not just in helping us understand Dougie’s condition but in helping us find our feet as first-time parents. We couldn’t thank them enough for making our first Christmas magical.” 

Could you support patients like Dougie, and his family, spending their Christmas with us this year? Please visit our Christmas Appeal to give £5 today and help make the festive season special at our hospital.