Baby Ruby is getting bigger and stronger.
Image Credit: Submitted
December 19, 2017 - 6:30 PM
SALMON ARM - A micro-preemie born to a Salmon Arm couple earlier this year is growing bigger and stronger every day, her family says.
Ruby Gollan was born at 25 weeks gestation weighing a mere 650 grams — roughly the size of a cob of corn. She was so small that her mother Ali Gollan couldn’t hold her for the first 11 days of her life.
Fast forward to today, and Ruby now weighs five pounds and her mom can hold her every day, Ali’s sister Carla Dewald says.
“She’s looking really good. She’s a little fighter,” Dewald says.
Among the highlights, Dewald says, is that Ruby is now big enough to fit into regular baby clothes.
“I know, it sounds so silly,” Dewald says.
Ruby has also showed some spunk, having recently ripped out her breathing tube, Dewald says.
“I guess she decided that was enough,” Dewald says with a laugh.
Ruby has made a lot of progress, but still has a long road ahead. She requires a breathing mask and still needs the feeding tube. It means she, and Ali, will have to stay at the hospital in Vancouver for a while longer.
“There’s no date yet for when they’re coming home. It looks like they’ll be spending her first Christmas in the hospital,” Dewald says.
She says the family has been overwhelmed by generosity from friends and community members.
“Thank you, just thank you to the community for pulling together,” Dewald says.
A Go Fund Me account has so far raised more than $8,000 to help Ali and her husband Rod with expenses. It remains open and any donations are graciously accepted, Dewald says.
The family is hoping that Ruby will soon be transferred to Kelowna or Kamloops hospital so they can be closer to home.
For now, they’ll be taking each day at a time, watching Ruby grow bit by bit.
“When she was born so tiny it was like ‘oh my god, you’re a miracle to be here right now,'” Dewald says. “She brings tears to my eyes.”
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