Helensburgh baby marks first birthday at home thanks to NHS

River Stephen Camile Mbunzama spent the first 320 days of his life at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow with a host of health challenges for his small body.

He was born on August 26, 2023 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, but early on his second day, there were signs of challenges breathing and feeding.

River was transferred to the RHC and would spend the next 11 months there, with many in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and paediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

He has had more than 20 procedures in that time to help him.

(Image: NHSGGC)

His mum, Roseann, 29, and dad Rudy, said for every step forward they felt they were dragged 10 back.

“I remember when River graduated from NICU to the Special Care Baby Unit in December followed by his first proper bath," said Roseann.

"The little things were massive to us. Unfortunately, we ended up back to NICU days later due to River catching a virus, which could have been critical. He only spent two days in NICU then got moved to the PICU on the 17th of January where he stayed for 12 days.

(Image: NHSGGC)

“Soon after, we had another positive milestone moment. We saw River without any respiratory support for the first time.

"Seeing his full face again was beautiful.

"However, following this, he went on to have severe choking episodes and at one point stopped breathing in Rudy’s arms. A terrifying emergency intubation followed to save his life and he ended up back on a ventilator in PICU.”

(Image: NHSGGC) (Image: NHSGGC)

River has an atrial septal defect in his heart and two small heart holes. But neither of those kept him in hospital for so long.

He also has a rare condition called Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) where the windpipe tissue is unusually soft and weak. And he also has a Laryngeal cleft to add further more hurdles at such a young age.

After River's life was saved, a surgical procedure found several parts of his small intestine were dead and had to be cut out. About 20cm of intestine were removed.

(Image: NHSGGC)

Roseann continued: "We had the dreaded chat with the doctors that he may not make it through the night following this surgery.

"River then went to theatre every 48hrs until the following Saturday. In total they removed 57cms and put a new feeding tube in called a Peg-j. By a miracle he did not need a stoma. The doctors, nurses and surgeons were all in shock.”

The tot lost all his core strength and head control from the many health challenges.

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But the physiotherapy and occupational therapy team put a plan in place to help regain the strength he once had.

The months that followed included more sedation, more ventilation and time in the PICU.

Through it all, River has defied the odds.

Roseann said: “On July 11, we made our first journey home as a family. We’re experiencing all the firsts that a mum would with a newborn.

"It all feels so strange. We have noticed a huge leap in River’s development in the short time that he has been home already.

(Image: NHSGGC)

“He has a long journey ahead of him. But at the end of the day after all the trauma, pain, tears, stress and heartbreak we endured...we finally get to have our boy home with us, where he belongs.”

The family expressed their immense gratitude to the many teams that helped River reach his first birthday and get home.

(Image: NHSGGC)

Roseann said: “We can't thank all the teams enough for everything they have done for us and River.

"Dr Haythem Kubba Rivers, ENT surgeon and the rest of the ENT team, gastroenterology, surgical, respiratory, dietitians, complex feeding teams, cardiology, physiotherapists (neurological and respiratory), occupational therapists, special feeds teams, theatre recovery team, SALT (speak and language therapists), the wonderful women from the play team.

“All the consultants and of course last by no means least, the nurses, students to seniors in NICU, SCBU, PICU, ward 3A, ward 3B. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”