Miracle baby named after pioneer
2007-08-21 23:12
Cape Town - A "miracle baby" who was born three months premature has been named after the late Dr Chris Barnard, South Africa's well-known heart-transplant pioneer.
Henry Christiaan Anderson, who was born in Cape Town on May 12 while his British parents were on holiday in the city, weighed only 860g at birth - less than two tubs of margarine.
His mother Deborah Anderson, 33, was in the 22nd week of her pregnancy when she was admitted with complications to the city's Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital.
Henry was delivered a month later, in his mom's 26th week of pregnancy. Normal pregnancies usually last about 40 weeks.
Henry is the first baby born to Deborah and Russell Anderson, 34.
The couple started fertility treatment last year after a long struggle to conceive.
Their son is now 14 weeks old and weighs a "huge" 2.9 kg.
"Because of the excellent service of the staff at the hospital, we felt it was right to give Henry the second name Christiaan," his father said.
"It looks like he's a real little fighter, because he has survived his early birth and all the complications that followed."
Two-week holiday became six months
The Andersons had planned to return home to Cheltenham in the south-west of England on April 1, after a two-week holiday in sunny South Africa.
"It doesn't happen every day that you have to stay on in a country for six months to wait for your baby to grow," the proud dad said.
He works as a financial adviser in Cheltenham and said his employers have been very supportive thus far.
Both of Henry's grandmothers have been to Cape Town to visit their tiny grandson.
"The past months have definitely been a rough and tumble ride for us. We saw our son stop breathing many times, and thankfully each time he started again with the help of the hospital staff and equipment."
The couple hope to return to Britain with their son next month.