Brightonian Born at 24 Weeks

This is one of two or three stories in The Argus I read with interest today. The other was the Guerilla Gardeners story and I read a horrifying piece about a homeless man whose was set alight while in his sleeping bag in New Road, in the town centre. Such things are not as rare as you would think, especially in Brighton. I believe some people consider it some kind of a sick blood-sport.

I read this story in The Argus today, however, which took my eye because of the fact that this little chap was born at 24 weeks. It is amazing the lengths that the medical profession will go to as long as a baby is considered 'wanted' or viable. At 24 weeks, the Government says that a baby is viable outside of the womb therefore that is the upper limit. Yet it is so arbitrary, really - there is no concrete reason other than 'viability' for why some unborn children should be given the assurance of medical care and protection and some could be aborted. I mean, at 23 weeks abortion is legal...but hang on...what if you waited another week? What then?

Story courtesy of The Argus

When he was born at 24 weeks, Stirling Wakeling weighed just over 1lb and his family feared he wouldn’t make it. In the first few months of his life he underwent open heart surgery and had to be resuscitated several times. In his short life he has also had to deal with chronic lung disease.

But now, four years on, the youngster is full of beans and constantly on the go at the family home in Hove. Stirling is now looking forward to starting school in September. And unlike many children in Hove he got into first choice, Goldstone Primary in Laburnum Avenue.

Proud mother Lucy Young, 34, said: “He is a little miracle and a real fighter. He has overcome every single hurdle. “He still needs help with asthma and was slow in his development at first. He took a while to learn how to talk but is now doing really well and going from strength to strength.

“He is almost on a level playing field with any other child his age. He has all his faculties and loves animals, riding his bike, cars and swimming. He is very active. There were many times when I thought he wouldn't make it and it was very difficult. I used to hold him when he was very small and he would stop breathing and needed to be resuscitated. It was hard but when you have children your love for them keeps you going. You just have to get on with it.”

Stirling has come a long way since needing extra oxygen to get him through the night. Doctors were even concerned he might have cerebral palsy, suffer brain damage and not be able to walk. Stirling spent the first four months of his life at the Trevor Mann baby unit at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Ms Young and her mother Trinity-Jayne Freedom, 48, from Saltdean, are now setting up a charity called Stirling's Donation, to raise as much money as possible for the unit and are expecting to get a website up and running soon. Ms Young said: “The Trevor Mann was absolutely brilliant and this is our way of saying thank you for everything they have done.”