Tuesday 8 February 2011


This picture was taken on Monday 7 February at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where Calum is being treated. When he was born his mother Margaret Mackenzie had passed into unconsciousness and had to be rushed to theater where Calum was delivered by emergency caesarean section. Surgeons at St John's Hospital Livingston fought for hours to save Margaret but she died at 6.20am.
When Calum was born he wasn't breathing and his heart had stopped. He responded well to resuscitation but had suffered severe oxygen starvation. The concern is whether brain damage has been sustained. It is a big worry.
It was touch and go for a couple of days after his birth as to whether he would survive.
The white jacket around his abdomen has cool water pumped through it which keeps him cool. This is a new treatment for babies which have suffered oxygen starvation. It helps to minimize brain damage in some.
The girl on the right is Sarah, one of Calum's sisters and the other one is Jessica his cousin.

10 comments:

  1. Sending you our love, deepest sympathy and assuring you of many prayers our dear brother. Adrian & Heather

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  2. Please be assured that there are many of us throughout the churches in Scotland, who don't know you but are praying for your family at this time.

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  3. What a beautiful little boy at the heart of a very sad story. Hoping and praying that he will be ok. xx

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  4. I live in Texas. In 1987, I gave birth at home to a little girl, Kelly. She had no Apgar score and as the midwives tried, they could not resuscitate her. My husband then took our daughter into his arms and lifted her to the Lord and prayed a short prayer asking Him to please give us the opportunity to get to know this child. During his prayer, Kelly let out a wail and turned a pleasing pink. She nursed enthusiastically through the night and the days ahead.
    As the midwives examined the placenta and cord, they found the cord had calcified about four inches near the center. Kelly was oxygen-deprived during the last hours of labor leading up to her birth, but God is faithful. At the end of this February, she will be 24 years old and remains a radiant part of our lives suffering no ill-effects from her birth. The one interesting fact we observed in her development was a “foreign accent syndrome”. This has been documented to occur in those individuals who suffer s stroke or are oxygen-deprived for an amount of time. To this day, people cannot believe she’s not from Britain or some other European country because she speaks with an accent. But she was born and raised in Texas only visiting her sister who lives in England. She’s also beautiful, a coordinated martial artist, fencer, and archer as well as an accomplished pianist and author. I say all this to encourage you as you watch your son grow and develop. So many opportunities lie in store for you and your family as you grow together in Christ.
    I don’t know the circumstances of your dear wife’s departing, but I do know God is faithful in all His doings. He knows your needs and the needs of your family. Our prayers are with you all.

    Crystal

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  5. Dearly hope your son grows stronger each & every day.
    Our son was born in 2008 & had severe oxygen starvation unfortunately we lost him at 2wks old.
    Praying for your family & sending you strength & courage from Shetland. x

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  6. You and your family are being prayed for from near and far.
    He is able to comfort where we have no words; He is able to strengthen where we have no strengthen. His pity is deeper than ours can ever be, and His pity has power too.
    I have no words, but I take you all to the Throne of Grace...
    Love in Christ

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  7. My heart aches for you - truly, we weep with those who weep. Praying that the God of all comfort will strengthen and sustain you all, in a way that only HE can. Prayers from England. x

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  8. Glad to see Calum is improving. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with you at this terrible time. Brings back memories of what our wee David was like. Love to you all. x Jonathan, Jillian & family x

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  9. Derek, I am so very sorry for your loss. You, your family and Calum have very much been in our thoughts and prayers, both our family's prayers & those of the congregation at Dalneigh & Bona Church of Scotland. Particularly praying that God comforts, strengthens and uplifts you all at this time and that His healing hand continues to be upon Calum.

    Much love.

    Susan Simpson & family xxx

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  10. Dear Brother,

    I wish my prayers could blanket you with comfort. I am so very sorry for your heartbreak. I am overjoyed at the "wee cone" Calum and how well he is doing, and how handsome he is for one so tiny.

    Know that a sister in Christ in southern California aches for you and is keeping you lifted up in prayer.

    God bless you and keep you in His hand, now and always,

    Kathy Leicester,
    San Diego, California, USA

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