Miracle baby Greyson is home.
In July, Greyson came into this world 15 weeks early, weighing in at one pound, 14 ounces. Langley-based parents Erin Heard and James O’Neill have stayed by his side at B.C. Children’s Hospital, where he remained in the neonatal intensive care unit. He had surgery to close a valve to his heart and was on a breathing machine up until late August.
“We are so happy to have him home,” said O’Neill on Monday. Doctors cleared baby Greyson to go home Oct. 17, earlier than expected.
“We have a lot of learning and a lot of trial and error but he’s home. I even went for a walk outside with him yesterday.”
O’Neill and Heard were renting a basement suite in Langley but were forced to move, because they discovered mould in the bathroom. Even though they did repair it, Greyson’s lungs would be far too fragile to handle mould spores. Last month they found a place in Guildford. They chose Surrey to be closer to Greyson when he was transferred from Children’s to Surrey Memorial.
“We are so grateful to everyone in Langley who helped us out and supported Greyson,” said O’Neill.
O’Neill went on leave from his recent employment at the Langley Target and was unable to collect any type of EI and didn’t qualify for compassionate care EI. Heard hadn’t worked at her job long enough to collect maternity EI.
Several fundraisers were put together from family and friends, and along with a trust account, it helped raise a few thousand dollars to help the couple out. Now Greyson is home, and has grown in weight and size. There are still lots of doctors’ appointments to come, but things are looking good.
O’Neill said he will be keeping up Greyson’s Page on Facebook. The page has more than 500 likes, and many people look in to see what is going on with Greyson and his journey.