Norfolk and Norwich Hospital's youngest surviving premature baby allowed to go home

A baby girl who was born more than four months prematurely, described as a "little 22-week miracle", has been discharged from hospital.

Lilly Rae weighed just 511g when she born in early December, about the same as a bag of sugar.

However, following care from staff in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, she's finally been allowed to go home with her mum Tayla Menear and dad Shane Rumbles.

Having been born at just 22 weeks and 2 days, she's the youngest surviving premature baby that the hospital has ever looked after.

“I cannot believe this day has come. We never dared hope that this could happen. I still don’t think I will believe it until Lilly is tucked up in her Moses basket at home with me and Shane," mum Tayla said.

Lilly was born with a beating heart, but struggled to breathe and move.

She was immediately put onto a ventilator, which she stayed on for seven weeks, and also had to have major surgery on a distended intestine.

During her stay in hospital, she suffered a bleed on the brain as well, and had to be put on a course of antibiotics to treat a series of life-threatening infections.

To make matters worse, mum Tayla could only visit Lilly for two hours each day due to the coronavirus restrictions, while dad Shane had to stay at home.

Thankfully though, Lilly has got stronger every day, and can now start the next chapter of her life away from hospital.

Specialist neonatal outreach nurses will continue to monitor her progress with regular visits to see her at home.

“It is too early to predict exactly what Lilly’s long term outcome will be, as we know babies born so prematurely are at higher risk of future developmental issues," said Dr Priya Muthukumar.

"Nevertheless, we are reasonably optimistic for Lilly because her brain scans while in the neonatal unit have been reassuring and she has made very encouraging progress so far.”

Tayla added: “I want to thank Priya – she effectively saved her life – and the whole NICU team. What they have done has been incredible. I want everyone to know just how brilliant they are.

“What we have been through is awful, but we owe all the staff at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit everything - for saving our little 22-week miracle.”