The Institute of Biomedical Science

My baby is lucky to be here

Medics had just minutes to save this little fighter from bleeding to death in the womb a full six weeks before he was due to be born.

Eight-week old Kaden Adams owes his life to biomedical scientists at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital who spotted a life-threatening problem as they analysed his mum's routine blood sample.

Minutes later, Karen Hargreaves, 32, from Fugill Road, Heartsease, who was just 34 weeks pregnant, was undergoing an emergency caesarean to save Kaden's life.

The battling baby needed a blood transfusion because he had lost so much blood and experts said he would probably have died without the quick action of medics.

Ms Hargreaves explained that she had visited the hospital's Pregnancy and Wellbeing Service because she had been concerned that the movements of her unborn baby had lessened over the course of a week. "This was my second pregnancy, so I knew what to expect. The baby was definitely moving about less and I was worried, although I did think twice about going to hospital because I didn't want to make a fuss," said Karen, who lives with her partner of 14 years, Ben Adams and their daughter Kira, three.

She said: "Now I look back and think thank God I did go, because if I'd stayed at home I would have lost my baby and we would have all been devastated."

When biomedical scientists Rob McPherson and Rachel Ward noticed a problem with Karen's blood sample on February 16 they realised time was running out for little Kaden. Mr McPherson said in his 25 years on the job he had never seen a baby bleeding so badly while still in the womb.

He said: "If Karen hadn't had a caesarean, I don't think Kaden would have made it through the night."

Kaden, whose name means 'strong fighter' in Old English, was born in the early evening of February 16, six weeks before his due date of March 30, weighing in at a healthy 5lb 1oz.

But he needed an urgent blood transfusion and spent two weeks in the hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

He is now happily back home with his family.

Ms Hargreaves said: “Everything happened so fast. I had my four-year-old daughter with me when I went into hospital because I had no idea that I was about to give birth.

"The staff were wonderful and looked after Kira while I went to theatre with Ben. There aren't enough words to say how grateful we are to everyone who helped save my baby's life. He's perfectly fine now, he's a little fighter and he's absolutely beautiful.

"Kaden needed two blood transfusions. I'm extremely grateful to the people who gave blood and to the wonderful staff who helped us through."

The scientists at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital not only analyse all the hospital's tests but also carry out the analysis on the samples from most of Norfolk's GPs.

In the course of a day the team will analyse samples from more than 1,000 patients from local GP surgeries alone. This represents approximately 4,000 to 5,000 samples every day.

Mr McPherson added: “Had we been presented with Karen's sample 10 years ago, we would never have been able to detect the problem because the technology was nowhere near as advanced as it is now.

"Kaden is a very lucky little boy and we are happy and proud that we were able to play a part in saving his life. Meeting him was really special for us because we're back room boys normally - we deal with samples, not patients!"

Paul Forden, N&N chief executive, added: "Our hospital doctors and local GPs rely heavily on the unsung staff who work in our laboratories.

"The public know very little about these scientists but they really are lifesavers, as we have seen in Kaden's case.

"Up to 60 per cent of all the diagnoses doctors make depends on the diagnostic work done by our biomedical scientists and they deserve our thanks and recognition."

Text and images reproduced here by kind permission of Norwich Evening News 24.