West Norfolk triplet dies
THE proud parents of a set of ground-breaking West Norfolk triplets are mourning the death of one of them, just eight weeks after he was born.
Mum Emily Bailey told the Lynn News she was glad to have known her tiny son, Zachary James, even for such a short time.
Miss Bailey (29) and partner Adrian Willis (57) held Zachary in their arms all night before he died at Lynn's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, having never been allowed home.
In July the Lynn News reported the arrival of Keiran, Jasmine and Zachary at the hospital, the birth being particularly special as the babies were one of two sets of triplets born there just three days apart.
The Willis-Bailey babies were born prematurely by caesarean at 33 weeks and placed in the special care baby unit after Miss Bailey went into labour seven weeks early.
On July 20, Keiran – who is Zachary's identical twin – and Jasmine were strong enough to go home to Queen's Close, Wereham.
However, Zachary, who was born second, had had problems. "They were born at 2.15am on July 1," said Miss Bailey, adding Zachary was having problems breathing on his own.
Zachary, who weighed 4lb 15oz, had been placed on a ventilator, but was taken off later.
"He had put on a lot of weight on and was doing really well," said Miss Bailey.
She and Mr Willis were hopeful he would pull through.
However, Zachary's breathing problems continued.
"He was not going to breathe on his own and could not swallow properly," Miss Bailey said.
Zachary travelled to Cambridge for a scan, the results being analysed in London.
Sadly, it was found there was a problem with blood not flowing to a part of his brain.
He was also suffering fits.
Zachary returned to the QEH where he was later placed in a cot though monitored. "He kept having to be resuscitated," said Miss Bailey.
It was Saturday, August 25, when the hospital called, fearing the worst.
Miss Bailey and Mr Willis then stayed with their baby all night, and he died in their arms at 10am on August 26.
"He could not breathe on his own, he had had enough," Miss Bailey said.
Yesterday's funeral was held at Boughton church at 2.30pm, followed by interment in the churchyard.
Speaking of the death of her baby Miss Bailey said: "I thought we were going to take him home."
Because Keiran was identical, they would know what he would have grown up like.
The couple, who have three other children – Alex (7), Christopher (5) and 19-month-old Aiden, had nothing but praise for QEH staff saying they had been "brilliant".
Donations were accepted at the funeral for the Special Care Baby Unit.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 26 C
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