A seven-week-old baby could be set to have the third operation of his life as he battles rare conditions.
Callen Gorrian was born at mum Danni and dad Phil’s Kirkcaldy home on February 28 but his bowel had come through a hole in his stomach.
He was diagnosed with rare Beckwith-Weidemann Syndrome, which causes growth defects and can make the infant more susceptible to cancer.
As a result Callen, who weighed 11lb 10oz when born, will have three-monthly checks during his first eight years.
Danni said: “When it was eventually confirmed by the geneticists we actually felt relieved that we knew what to expect and that he would be well taken care of for the duration of his childhood.
“He will be slightly bigger than his peers and may suffer with his speech and possibly have slow development.”
Danni and Phil were also told Callen has congenital hyperinsulinism which has links to BWS and affects the regulation of his blood sugar level.
After the dramatic birth, an ambulance was called to take Danni and Callen into the Victoria Hospital while Phil, 32, stayed at home with Brodie sleeping upstairs.
They then faced an anxious wait to find out what was wrong.
Danni, 30, told us: “He was then taken from me and checked over by the midwives and they called for a consultant to also have a look. They were probably checking him over for around 45 minutes to an hour.”
The consultant then got in touch a specialist to decide which hospital was best placed to provide him with treatment.
Danni added: “I was then allowed another cuddle before he was taken to neonatal intensive care.”
He was transferred to Edinburgh Sick Children’s Hospital the next day with his bowel repaired during an operation.
With Brodie still at home and not allowed to visit his baby brother due to Covid restrictions, grandparents have been called on to look after the toddler as they await their first cuddle with Callen.
Danni said: “We were concerned how Brodie would be with us leaving every morning to go to the hospital. Due to Covid he obviously hasn’t had any contact with grandparents for a very long time.
“Luckily he has actually adapted fairly well and is enjoying spending time with grandparents although he does get upset when we leave him. We try to get to the hospital to see Callen in the morning then come home and spend the afternoon with Brodie and stick to his bathtime and bedtime routines.
“Our parents are concerned about Callen’s health and sad that they’re yet to meet him. Brodie is also yet to meet his baby brother.”
Last week, the family including Brodie travelled to Manchester as Callen started specialist treatment on a synthetic hormone which they hope will be successful.
If not, it could mean a third operation for the baby.
Callen has already had surgery to reposition his bowel and repair his abdomen at just three days old and at five weeks he had a central line fitted to gain more permanent access for medication.
Danni said: “The endocrine team have advised that they may operate to remove part of his pancreas which would hopefully stop his body producing too much insulin.
“However this leaves him at risk of developing diabetes when he is older.”
The situation has also been made more difficult due to the impact of Covid as Danni explained: “We were able to hold Callen (after the initial first cuddle from birth) when he was three days old. However we were not able to give him a kiss until he was over a month old due to having to wear masks in most of the hospital’s we have been in.
“The pandemic has meant that we have to wear masks at all times around our boy, apart from the week he was at a different hospital and had his own room. We also haven’t been allowed any other visitors in to see him. It is also hard building relationships with the consultants, doctors and nurses behind masks.”
Friends have set up a fundraising page for the couple to help with costs while they are staying in Manchester to support Callen through his treatment there.
It has already amassed over £4000 in donations including from friends and family in Ayrshire where Phil was born and brought up and mum Christine still stays.
Despite the challenges facing them, the couple remain positive about the future.
Danni added: “We are quite positive people and try to take each day as it comes. Some days Callen has a good day, sometimes it’s bad but we are constantly reminding ourselves of the positives.
“It’s really hard balancing care of the boys. On one hand you want to be with your sick baby 24/7 but on the other you have a toddler who is very aware of a big change and you want to be there for him too.”
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