{"id":606938,"date":"2025-12-02T07:41:23","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T07:41:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/606938\/"},"modified":"2025-12-02T07:41:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T07:41:23","slug":"miracle-baby-celebrates-first-christmas-after-life-saving-blood-transfusions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/606938\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Miracle\u2019 baby celebrates first Christmas after life-saving blood transfusions"},"content":{"rendered":"

The parents of a \u201cmiracle\u201d baby born over three months early have thanked blood donors for saving her life<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Delivered at just 26 weeks in January and weighing only 2.1lbs, Alexandria Allyson needed four transfusions to survive her first days.<\/p>\n

After spending over three months in hospital, she was finally strong enough to go home with her parents in Dunfermline, Fife.<\/p>\n

Mum Nicolle Hollick recalled visiting hospital on the evening of New Year\u2019s Day with severe cramps, though no issues were detected at first.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey said everything looked okay, so we went home. But my instinct kept telling me something wasn\u2019t right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Within 24 hours they were back. Doctors were able to confirm Nicolle\u2019s waters had broken \u2013 and she was blue-lighted to Glasgow\u2019s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.<\/p>\n

\"AlexandriaAlexandria spent three months in hospital before she was strong enough to go home. <\/p>\n

She was kept in the ward for two weeks and Alexandria was born via an emergency C-section on January 15 this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlexandria was tiny \u2013 she fitted across my hands when she was first born,\u201d said Nicolle.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was intubated at birth. For the first 72 hours she couldn\u2019t be lifted or moved to protect her brain. That was quite scary.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nicolle described the early days as a \u201cwaiting game\u201d of X-rays and blood tests.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was terrifying \u2013 we didn\u2019t know what was going to happen. We didn\u2019t know if we were going to get her home or not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alexandria underwent four blood transfusions, which Nicolle described as \u201clife-saving\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf that blood hadn\u2019t been available to her, without a doubt she wouldn\u2019t be sitting here blowing raspberries. It gave her a chance at a life, and we are so incredibly grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"BabySTV NewsBaby Alexandria Allyson will celebrate her first birthday in January. STV News<\/p>\n

Alexandria finally came home at the end of April, weighing 6.5lbs. She needed oxygen support at home for the first few months.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was like having a newborn at three-and-a-half months old,\u201d Nicolle said. \u201cIt was just great to have her with us properly, to actually really start our life as a family.<\/p>\n

\u201cHer dad Dan and I believe she is our total miracle and our warrior princess. She kept fighting. She\u2019s been through so much in her wee life already.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe absolutely cannot wait to celebrate her first Christmas and her first birthday. To be able to make those memories and be with her is just amazing. She\u2019s the most happy, content little girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"NicolleScottish National Blood Transfusion ServiceNicolle with baby Alexandria in hospital Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service<\/p>\n

Nicolle is backing an appeal urging people to give blood as figures show active donation has fallen to 1.7% of the population.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t realise the importance of it until she needed it,\u201d she added. It only takes three teaspoons to save a premature baby\u2019s life. It\u2019s half an hour of your time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) campaign comes as latest figures show the number of people actively donating has fallen to 1.7% of the population.<\/p>\n

The service is asking people to register as a donor and book a blood donation appointment now to help build vital blood stocks during the busy winter and Christmas period.<\/p>\n

There are currently 93,097 active blood donors in Scotland.<\/p>\n

\u2018I got to see my girl\u2019s stage debut thanks to a blood donor\u2019\"KellySTV NewsKelly with little Millie. STV News<\/p>\n

A mum with Hodgkin\u2019s Lymphoma says a blood donor saved her Christmas, allowing her to escape the ward just in time to see her daughter\u2019s \u201cirreplaceable\u201d stage debut.<\/p>\n

Kelly Butler, 35, from Aberdeen, was diagnosed with blood cancer in September last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think when I initially heard I had lymphoma, my brain kind of shut off a little bit. I wasn\u2019t focused on the big cancer issue; I was more focused on what I could do about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the reality of chemotherapy soon hit hard, requiring multiple inpatient hospital stays.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think my brain did a lot of protecting, keeping me calm,\u201d said Kelly. \u201cBut I think when everyone hears the word cancer, you think the worst: \u2018Oh my God, chemo, losing your hair, potential of losing your life,\u2019 and everything runs through your brain like that really quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"KellySTV NewsKelly while undergoing chemotherapy. STV News<\/p>\n

The gruelling treatment meant Kelly often had to spend 24 hours a day attached to a drip, with only a 20-minute break for a shower.<\/p>\n

The difficulty was compounded by the fact that her young daughter, then only seven, could not visit the ward.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was already aware my cancer was affecting her a lot \u2013 seeing me lose my hair, now me being in hospital attached to all these machines all the time.\u201d I was very unwell.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe had already seen too much of what cancer was doing to me.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just kind of fibbed to her that it was the longest ever holiday away from each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

The lowest point came around Christmas. Kelly\u2019s immune system had been severely damaged due to the chemotherapy, dropping her white blood cell counts and confining her to hospital while her daughter was preparing to dance in her local panto for the first time.<\/p>\n

Being unable to properly support her little girl was difficult.<\/p>\n

\u201cHer dad and my amazing parents helped out with everything, but as a mum, you\u2019re missing out on important moments,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Doctors tried to restore Kelly\u2019s white blood cell levels, but nothing worked. Eventually, they decided to administer a blood transfusion.<\/p>\n

She described the impact as \u201cmonumental\u201d \u2013 and she was able to get home from hospital in time to see daughter Millie dance in the panto.<\/p>\n

\"KellySTV NewsKelly Butler. STV News<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting to see her perform for the first time on stage \u2013 it was just these little life things, the milestone of my life last year. An irreplaceable moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout that donation, who decided to go that day, it would have really had a massive impact on my family. It meant the world to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year, Kelly will be able to spend the festive season at home with her family, having completed her treatment earlier in the year.<\/p>\n

Millie is also set to star in this year\u2019s panto \u2013 this time, with Kelly excited to take on a hands-on role.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m like Kris Jenner \u2013 a momager. I can\u2019t wait to be more of a part of it all! I\u2019m making a bigger deal out of Christmas this year \u2013 it\u2019s going to be really special.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kelly, a blood donor herself since college, says she is encouraging everyone to donate blood.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always thought it was for emergency situations; I never associated it with cancer patients at all. But I\u2019ve learned is it\u2019s such a big part of cancer patients\u2019 journeys.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t feel like a big deal when you\u2019re in there \u2013 you don\u2019t know the impact it has on the person receiving the blood. But for the person receiving it, it\u2019s massive. Everyone should be encouraged to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"KellySTV NewsKelly is excited to see Millie perform in this year\u2019s panto. STV News<\/p>\n

Debbie McNaughton, associate director of donor and transport services at SNBTS, said: \u201cEvery day, Scotland needs around 450 blood donors to meet the needs of patients in hospitals across the country. However, fewer people are donating than before, and that puts pressure on Scotland\u2019s blood supply.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am urging both new and returning donors to come forward to help ensure lifesaving blood is always available.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact less than 2% of the population are actively giving blood is a concerning trend. In the last 10 years we have seen a drop of 24% \u2013 which is just under 30,000 donors. We are also seeing a particular challenge around younger people coming forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe blood supply has been maintained by our regular donors giving more often, but we really need new donors, or those who have not given for some time, to come forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

SNBTS said a key reason for the decline is simply lack of awareness about the importance of blood donation.<\/p>\n

There are eight different blood groups and the service aims to retain five to seven days supply of all eight blood groups at all times.<\/p>\n

It said that blood has a short shelf life of 35 days, making regular donations vital to maintaining supplies.<\/p>\n

Ms McNaughton said: \u201cOur Donor Centres, which are based across Scotland, aim to collect almost 40% of Scotland\u2019s blood this December.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn recent months, these donor centres have been quiet. With convenient opening times and locations, I\u2019m asking the people of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, to remember about giving blood.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d love to welcome workplaces, groups and clubs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Appointments can be booked online at www.scotblood.co.uk<\/a> or by calling 0345 90 90 999<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

STV News is now on WhatsApp<\/p>\n

Get all the latest news from around the country<\/p>\n

Follow STV News <\/a>Follow STV News on WhatsApp<\/p>\n

Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country<\/p>\n

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