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Doctors gave my 20oz baby up for dead ... but I saved her life with this cuddle
The Daily Mail UK ^ | 7th December 2007 | LUCY LAING

Posted on 12/07/2007 2:09:23 PM PST by rawhide

It was to be the one and only cuddle Carolyn Isbister would have with her tiny, premature daughter.

Rachael had been born minutes before - weighing a mere 20oz - and had only minutes to live. Her heart was beating once every ten seconds and she was not breathing.

As doctors gave up, Miss Isbister lifted her baby out of her hospital blanket and placed her on her chest.

She said: "I didn't want her to die being cold. So I lifted her out of her blanket and put her against my skin to warm her up. Her feet were so cold.

"It was the only cuddle I was going to have with her, so I wanted to remember the moment." Then something remarkable happened. The warmth of her mother's skin kickstarted Rachael's heart into beating properly, which allowed her to take little breaths of her own.

Miss Isbister said: "We couldn't believe it - and neither could the doctors. She let out a tiny cry.

"The doctors came in and said there was still no hope - but I wasn't letting go of her. We had her blessed by the hospital chaplain, and waited for her to slip away.

"But she still hung on. And then amazingly the pink colour began to return to her cheeks.

"She literally was turning from grey to pink before our eyes, and she began to warm up too."

Four months later, Rachael was allowed home weighing 8lb - the same as a newborn baby - and she has a healthy appetite.

(snip)


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: cuddle; hug; preemies; sweetbaby
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To: rawhide

You would think the doctors would have a clue that the baby was cold, or would at least suggest dong what the mother did as a “last resort”. Oy.


21 posted on 12/07/2007 3:13:11 PM PST by Captainpaintball
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To: Captainpaintball

I meant to type “doing” in the last post.


22 posted on 12/07/2007 3:13:49 PM PST by Captainpaintball
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To: Brad's Gramma

Fantastic story!!


23 posted on 12/07/2007 3:17:39 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: Guenevere

Wonderful!


24 posted on 12/07/2007 3:44:58 PM PST by lysie
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To: rawhide

Oh, how breathtaking, how beautiful!


25 posted on 12/07/2007 3:49:16 PM PST by Judith Anne (Thank you St. Jude for favors granted.)
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To: rawhide

Hope they got MARRIED!!


26 posted on 12/07/2007 3:51:23 PM PST by Ann Archy (Abortion: The Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: rawhide

Thanks for some good news! Very heartwarming in more ways than one!


27 posted on 12/07/2007 3:51:30 PM PST by Aliska
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To: rawhide

WOW! What an absolutely amazing, incredible story!


28 posted on 12/07/2007 4:04:29 PM PST by Theresawithanh (FRED!)
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To: Brad's Gramma; rawhide
Thank you Lord!!!!!

Amen! Thank You, our Loving Lord and King!

29 posted on 12/07/2007 4:42:59 PM PST by Kitty Mittens (To God Be All Excellent Praise!!)
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To: Brad's Gramma

A miracle along with the love of a mother and the response from the baby. God bless them all. What a wonderful Christmas for them.


30 posted on 12/07/2007 4:51:42 PM PST by cubreporter ( Rush has done more for this country than any other politician ever! He's the man!!!!)
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To: rawhide

Precious Sweet Baby...Our Creator gave us those precious babies...


31 posted on 12/07/2007 4:55:58 PM PST by shield (A wise man's heart is at his RIGHT hand;but a fool's heart at his LEFT. Ecc 10:2)
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To: LucyJo

The love of a mother and father for their child.
Faith in God and prayer.
You can’t beat it. You JUST CAN’T BEAT IT.

Can never honestly understand how people who have no faith can even make it through a day. Faith brings us all around. This family is blessed and we hope they have a very Merry Christmas and many more to come with their own Christmas Tree Angel!!! God bless all of them.


32 posted on 12/07/2007 4:56:11 PM PST by cubreporter ( Rush has done more for this country than any other politician ever! He's the man!!!!)
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To: Apercu

My husband said just that right now. He said Drs shouldn’t be so quick to just toss a life aside so blatantly. Give it a chance. This baby is proof of love and parenting.


33 posted on 12/07/2007 4:57:22 PM PST by cubreporter ( Rush has done more for this country than any other politician ever! He's the man!!!!)
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To: lysie
Thanks lysie...

Our little 2-1/2 lb granddaughter was hooked up to all the bells and whistles in NICU, but as soon as they could, the nurses did the same thing for our daughter...

...they took little Jellybean out of the incubator and pressed her up against our daughter's skin to be cuddled, this like this woman.

Jellybean thrived!...and tomorrow turns 3!

34 posted on 12/07/2007 4:57:38 PM PST by Guenevere (Duncan Hunter...President '08)
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To: Captainpaintball

Why didn’t they have little warm booties on her? Why not one of those little knit hats too?


35 posted on 12/07/2007 4:58:05 PM PST by cubreporter ( Rush has done more for this country than any other politician ever! He's the man!!!!)
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To: cubreporter

Amen!


36 posted on 12/07/2007 4:59:09 PM PST by LucyJo
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To: rawhide

Talk about ‘The right to life’ and it only took a little warmth! Beautful story and thanks for sharing this!


37 posted on 12/07/2007 5:18:48 PM PST by karencfga (Hillary and Barack will move to a stalemate and cancel each other out.)
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To: ahayes
"The baby looks like the photographer has done something absolutely horrifying in the second picture. "

Lime green mohawk?

38 posted on 12/07/2007 5:24:01 PM PST by spunkets ("Freedom is about authority", Rudy Giuliani, gun grabber)
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To: beaversmom

This is an amazing story but it reminds me of a friend, now in her 70s who was born at home and weighed less than 2 pounds.


39 posted on 12/07/2007 5:36:21 PM PST by Conservativegreatgrandma
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To: Guenevere

Happy birthday to your little one.


40 posted on 12/07/2007 5:37:36 PM PST by Conservativegreatgrandma
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