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Dougie in hospital(Image: Family handout)<\/p>\n‘This was honestly the most worrying 24 hours of our lives as we were told he should have regained consciousness but hadn\u2019t’Dougie in hospital(Image: Family handout)<\/p>\n
A little boy began deteriorating dramatically and had to be sedated after catching a common cold virus. His parents were then given grave news that he failed to wake up.<\/p>\n
Dougie MacKay was admitted to his local hospital for croup, a common virus that affects children, causing their airways to swell. While at the hospital, the Preston family were told he had also contracted two types of flu, flu A and flu B.<\/p>\n
Dougie went back home after being treated, but then started going downhill rapidly. The four-year-old had to be blue-lighted back to hospital with extremely low oxygen levels.<\/p>\n
Within two hours of arriving, mum Ellie and dad Gordon were told their son\u2019s lung had collapsed due to empyema, a condition which sees a build-up of pus between the lungs and chest cavity. The terrified parents, who run a baby class business, Baby Sensory Preston, were also told that Dougie was suffering pneumonia and sepsis.<\/p>\n
The little boy was intubate and stabilised before being rushed to Royal Manchester Children\u2019s Hospital for specialist treatment. It was followed by the \u2018most worrying 24 hours\u2019 of the parents\u2019 lives.<\/p>\n
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Dougie in hospital surrounded by his siblings(Image: Family handout)<\/p>\n
Dougie and his parents were isolated in the hospital due to his flu A and B diagnosis and when he was taken out of sedation, he failed to wake up.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was honestly the most worrying 24 hours of our lives as we were told he should have regained consciousness but hadn\u2019t,\u201d Ellie said. Dougie eventually came round and spent a few days recuperating on the ward.<\/p>\n
He was in the Royal Manchester Children\u2019s Hospital for 12 nights, including eight in intensive care, before being discharged. Since then, he has had several months of follow up care and gone on to make a full recovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cDougie is the youngest of four children and we had never been through anything like this with our older children. The care and treatment he received at the Royal Manchester Children\u2019s Hospital was astounding.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were in absolute awe,\u201d said Ellie.<\/p>\n
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The MacKay family(Image: Family handout)<\/p>\n
When Dougie initially didn’t wake up, a family friend \u2013 also the crew mate of the paramedic who first transferred Dougie to hospital \u2013 compiled a video of supportive messages.<\/p>\n
The messages all came from children who were either in Dougie\u2019s nursery class or toddlers sense class, or were from families whose children were attending other Preston Baby Sensory classes.<\/p>\n
The group thought that the voices and familiarity would help to wake Dougie from sedation.<\/p>\n
Dougie began to wake up but wasn\u2019t verbal or interacting. Ellie and Gordon then showed him the video and he instantly started crying.<\/p>\n
Since then, Ellie and Gordon set themselves a challenge they named \u2018Dougie\u2019s Dozen\u2019 to raise money for the hospital that saved their son. The family is set to complete their fundraising challenge this weekend at the Greater Manchester Run \u2013 and they\u2019re hopeful they might exceed their original \u00a38,000 target.<\/p>\n
Their son Finley, 15, will be taking on the event\u2019s 10km run. Daughters Maisie, 12, and Matilda, nine-years-old, will take on the junior event, while Dougie is poised for the 1.6km mini run.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe nursing staff took such incredible care of our boy that at times it brought us to tears. So many small elements made our stay and our son\u2019s recovery a thousand times easier,\u201d Ellie continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot thank the hospital enough. We were determined to give something back and came up with the idea of \u2018Dougie\u2019s Dozen\u2019 \u2013 challenging ourselves to complete 12 fundraising activities over 12 months to recognise the 12 nights Dougie spent in hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re really looking forward to taking on this year\u2019s Great Manchester Run as a family and completing our year of fundraising on a high! Exceeding our original goal of \u00a38,000 would be the cherry on the cake and we\u2019re really grateful for the support everyone has shown us.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Parents Ellie and Gordon celebrate completing the London Marathon(Image: Family handout)<\/p>\n
The family\u2019s business, along with their children\u2019s play caf\u00e9, has been a major part of the MacKay family\u2019s fundraising for the Royal Manchester Children\u2019s Hospital. The business has put on a number of themed baby sensory and toddler sense classes, including a mini-Olympics, with ticket sales supporting their fundraising target.<\/p>\n
Other fundraising activities have included family members taking part in the hospital charity\u2019s annual abseil. Ellie and Gordon also recently completed the 2025 London Marathon as first-time marathon runners.<\/p>\n
Angela Rowe, deputy director of Manchester Foundation Trust Charity said: \u201cIt\u2019s great to hear that Dougie is well and thriving after his time in hospital and we\u2019re extremely grateful to the MacKay family and their Baby Sensory customers for their fundraising.<\/p>\n
“Through their inspiring, inventive and community-led fundraising they\u2019ve raised a remarkable amount which will make a difference for patients and families cared for the Royal Manchester Children\u2019s Hospital. We can\u2019t wait to see them cross the finish line.\u201d<\/p>\n