Ruby Gollan was born weighing just 650 grams.
Image Credit: Micro Preemie Ruby Gollan Needs Help/ GoFundMe
October 03, 2017 - 8:00 PM
VERNON - She’s only the size of a cob of corn, and is already fighting for her life.
Little Ruby Gollan was supposed to be a New Year’s baby, but decided to make her debut a few months early.
Born to parents Ali and Rod Gollan from Salmon Arm, the “micro-preemie” was born Sept. 18 at 25 weeks gestation.
Ali’s sister, Carla Dewald, says Ruby was so tiny, no one was allowed to hold her — not even her mother — for the first 11 days of her life.
“It’s a fight for this little girl,” Dewald says by phone from Alberta.
She says her sister had a tough pregnancy from the start, including heavy bleeding and strict doctor’s orders to stay well rested. Dewald describes her sister as extremely healthy and says she did everything the doctor told her.
The bleeding became so severe on Sept. 16 that Ali rushed herself to the Salmon Arm hospital where she was told she was going into labour, Dewald says.
“The hospital acted very quickly. They gave her a shot of steroids to strengthen Ruby’s lungs and transported her to the B.C. Women’s Hospital in Vancouver,” Dewald says.
Ruby was delivered by emergency C-section, weighing in at 650 grams — roughly the size of a cob of corn. A baby is considered a micro preemie if they are born weighing less than 800 grams.
Ruby's parents are staying in Vancouver until Ruby reaches her birth weight about three months from now.
“It’s been very stressful, there’s been lots of tears from everybody,” Dewald says.
It’s also been financially draining for the couple, who can’t work while they are in Vancouver awaiting the green light to bring Ruby home.
Dewald set up a Go Fund Me account to support them, and says the community’s response has been overwhelming so far.
— This story was updated at 7:48 a.m. Oct. 4, 2017 to correct a measurement.
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