‘Miracle’ baby born at 22 weeks in Coventry goes home

A “miracle” baby, born at 22 weeks and three days, has been allowed to go home with his parents.

Isaac weighed 1.2lbs (555g), the equivalent of two blocks of butter, when he was born in February at University Hospital in Coventry.

About seven in 10 babies born at 22 weeks do not survive, the hospital said, but Isaac spent his first months being cared for by specialist neonatal teams and now, at almost 6lbs (2.7kg), his parents have been allowed to take him home. He has become the youngest-born child to survive at the hospital.

Mum Vimbay wiped back tears as she rang a bell signalling the end of her son’s hospital stay and dad Tatenda said it was a miracle that Isaac was still there with them.

“[I] didn’t really think this day would come,” he said.

The family had celebrated every gram the infant gained, Vimbay said.

“There have been moments of fear and moments of exhaustion, but there have also been moments of hope, and my faith has carried me through this.”

Both parents paid tribute to the hospital’s “amazing” nursing team and neonatal staff.

“Isaac wouldn’t have got to where he is now without them,” Vimbay said.

“When he was in intensive care, that was the hardest time, and the nurses there have such a big job caring for the tiniest children.”

She added, while at first all she had wanted was to take her baby home, after a while “the thought of going home was scarier than staying in hospital”.

“I’m receiving a lot of support from the neonatal community outreach team and that is really reassuring.”