The region’s flagship hospital celebrated its 10th anniversary this week – and it’s an extra special milestone for one Bannockburn youngster.
Forth Valley Royal Hospital marked the formal birthday of its opening yesterday – 10 years to the day when the £293 million facility threw open its doors.
But for Kenzie Liddell, the occasion takes on added importance as he was the first Stirling baby born at the hospital.
Kenzie was born at the new maternity unit at the hospital on the first day of its opening on July 13, 2011, with the new arrival coming into the world at 7.54am to parents Michelle and Barry.
As part of the initial celebrations, Kenzie was presented with special gifts from NHS Forth Valley, with staff handing over a cuddly toy rabbit, a cotton top inscribed with the phrase ‘Forth Valley Royal First’ and a certificate of congratulations.
Almost 10 years on from that date, active Kenzie is preparing to bring up double figures.
Kenzie said: “I love to play football with my friends and going out on bike rides or on my scooter doing stunts.
“My hobbies are bait and fly fishing at the weekends with my dad, I am learning to play grass bowls and I would love to play in the junior championships for Scotland when I am better at the game. I enjoy school and really like doing maths.”
After the birth back in 2011, Gillian Morton, NHS Forth Valley general manager for women and children’s services, said: “The move from the labour suite at Stirling to the new Women and Children’s Unit at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert went incredibly well.
“The staff were exceptional and really went the extra mile to get everything ready for the first mothers and babies.
“The opening of this new unit is the start of an exciting new chapter for the whole of Forth Valley.”
Since then, Forth Valley Royal Hospital has welcomed around 30,000 babies to the world – as well as carrying out 100,000 operations and 1.1 million patients have attended the site for outpatient appointments.
Karen McFarlane, interim department manager for paediatrics at NHS Forth Valley, said it was an amazing feeling to think that the tiny babies born in 2011 were now almost ready to move on to high school.
Karen added: “It’s lovely to see some of our very first arrivals and hear about how they have grown and developed over the last 10 years.
“It’s also great to hear that one of them still treasures the toy bunny and Forth Valley first vest which they received when they were born.”
