'˜It was awful knowing our baby's life was hanging in the balance'

Nicola Jaques talks to his family about how the youngster underwent lifesaving surgery when he was just one-week-old.

Marking a little one’s first birthday is a special occasion and as Thomas Heskine turns one this Thursday his celebrations will be no different.

The weekend also marks another rather remarkable milestone in his life - August 19 is a exactly a year to the day since he was transferred from his birthplace at the Royal Preston Hospital to Manchester Children’s Hospital for pioneering surgery to remove his kidney and a rare tumour, taking up two thirds of his abdomen.

It took a dedicated medical team of 24 five hours in theatre to remove the growth, which was eight cm in diameter and weighed 14oz.

Thomas was just one-week-old and nearly a month premature - and his early arrival was all part of a very precise and sophisticated plan to help save his life.

His parents Peter and Kathryn, who live in Blossom Grove, in Whittle-le-Woods, near Chorley, described the moment the sonographer discovered an abnormality on his left kidney at a routine 36 week scan as: “bit of a blur”.

The discovery itself made a very unusual case as it is understood to be the first time such a diagnosis has been picked up on a prenatal ultrasound

Peter and Kathryn explain at that early stage, such was the special nature of the sonographer’s findings, there was no clear definition or answer as to what lay ahead.

Kathryn, 29, says: “While we were given the best care you could have asked for - we still had no idea what we were preparing for. Would he have further abnormalities? What other complications would there be?

“And the consultants were very careful as they too were not quite sure just what they were dealing with. They wanted to be honest but it wasn’t a straightforward diagnosis at that stage.”

Company director Peter, 31, who grew up in Lancaster, adds it was down to pure fate and several factors syncing up which resulted in Thomas’s medical care being in place, even before he entered the world.

The 36 week ultrasound, was one of a series Kathryn had been appointed during her pregnancy as a result of the couple’s first child Grace being registered a small birth weight.

The sonographer, by coincidence that day, also happened to have been a practicing midwife.

Peter says: “The stars were all alligned that day.

“If Kathryn hadn’t needed the extra scans, and that particular sonographer hadn’t been working that day, there is every chance the tumour wouldn’t have been found.

“It also just happened the right consultant was available there and then too and as a result of that things progressed very quickly.

“The consultants were in touch more or less straight away with the team at Manchester, tests being carried out and a very specific plan drawn up.

“The decision was made to induce Kathryn and get Thomas into surgery as soon as possible.”

Thomas offers a wide smile as he happily tucks into his lunch at the family home and Kathryn and Peter say people meeting Thomas today, for the first time, would know nothing of his rather miraculous start to life.

The only lasting feature of his surgery is the faintest of scars across his tummy. The tumour a cellular measoblastic nephroma was thankfully benign.

“We didn’t ever want him to be remembered as the boy with the tumour and no one other than our immediate family knew of the complications ahead of his birth or immediately after.

“It was all so sudden and we just didn’t want the questions when we actually didn’t have the answers or even know what the outcome would be ourselves.

“It was just awful, knowing our baby’s life was potentially hanging in the balance.”

Kathryn, a freelance graphic designer, says her pregnancy with Thomas had been a nervous one.

The couple had endured the heartache of two miscarriages previously but there had been no indications during any of her other consultations to cause alarm.

“The 20 week, 28-week and 32-week scans were all ‘perfect’ but on that 36-week check up, the sonographer spotted a ‘solid mass’ and Thomas’s enlarged kidney straight away.

“You’re hit with instant fear and it was just an anxious time from then on.”

Kathryn was booked in to be induced at the earliest opportunity. Thomas was born on August 17, 2016 weighing 6lb 6oz, the tumour was one fifth of his body weight.

“As soon as he was born, you could visibly see on his left side where the tumour was but he still looked a perfect baby.”

The couple were allowed a brief time with Thomas before he was taken by the neonatal team for further observations. He deteriorated quite rapidly and it was soon apparent he needed surgery urgently.

“The tumour took up two thirds of his abdomen and the size of it was compressing on all his other major organs and nothing was where it was meant to be. He was nil by mouth and couldn’t be fed.

“It was a waiting game for him to be stable enough to get to Manchester where we knew the right people were but while the consultants had an idea of what it could be, they still didn’t have definitive answers.”

Thomas was transferred to Manchester where he was put under the care of oncologist consultant Dr Penn.

Peter says: “He underwent numerous tests and scans to give him the best possible chance.

“That was the first time we got to see the results of the CT scan which showed the actual size of the tumour and the effect it was having on Thomas’s organs.

“We then met the surgeon Mr Craigie who explained they would have to remove the kidney completely - it was touch and go from that point.

“They told us the surgery would take as long as it takes, the reality of it was awful.”

Kathryn adds: “That was my lowest point, Thomas was less than a week old, we knew he needed the surgery or he would die but there was also the chance he wouldn’t make it back from the operating table.

“No parent ever wants to be in that position.

“Once he made into surgery we were taken into a room and actually at that point I fell asleep for the first time in a week. I think it must have been that sense of knowing there was nothing more I could do, it was in the hands of the surgeons to sort it from here.

“The next thing, five hours later, Thomas was being wheeled past and the two surgeons came straight in to see us and we had the most informal chat - they were just incredible.

“They showed us up close the picture of the tumour, you couldn’t believe how something could grow that size in a tiny baby.

“They asked if they had our permission to use Thomas’s case as a story board for training - it is so rare for a pre-term baby to undergo this type of surgery and even rarer to be based on a plan from before he was even born.

“Everyone involved from the off had worked to the plan - we could not praise them enough.”

While the surgery was successful, Thomas still had a long recovery which Peter says was another emotional process. Kathryn adds: “Thomas had been nil by mouth for a week and then after his operation we couldn’t hold him properly until he had properly recovered.

“We were also very torn with knowing we had Grace back home who had very little understanding of what was going on but that need to be with Thomas.

“We really felt like new parents all over again and even now I know I am so much more protective.”

From Manchester Children’s Hospital, Thomas was transferred back to Preston before being discharged the day before his due date, September 4.

“It was our final goal to have him at home before his due date and we made it with a day to spare.

“I just remember us all being in our room that night and Grace not letting me go.

“She is an amazing big sister and Thomas completely dotes on her. He is such a happy boy and you wouldn’t have a clue what he’s been through.

“But I’ve saved everything and one day we’ll go through it all with him.” Thomas does not require any medication but will be monitored regularly by the hospital until he reaches the age of six.

Kathryn says: “I’m still really nervous everytime we go for a check up - you’re always thinking will they find something but the doctors even say now there is nothing to explain why it happened to Thomas.”

Leading up to their birthday preparations the couple have been busy training for a 46 mile charity cycle to raise money for Royal Manchester Childrens Hospital .

Joining them on their fundraising mission will be Kathryn’s brother Andrew McAteer, his wife Emily and friends Amy Rimmer, Chad Hardman, Murray Brindle and Simon Lewis-Pierpoint.

Kathryn says: “Last time I was on a bike, I was at university but we’ve been doing the training and have the route all mapped out.

“We want to raise £1,000 but we think we might beat that total and the hospital has asked if we are happy to put towards their fundraising for a new special scanner.

“They couldn’t have been any more helpful to us - this is our way to say thank you.”

The couple have collection buckets in the local Spar and Paces with Laces in Leyland.

Their ride is being sponsored by SapphireJacob Ltd and SDA Architecture Chorley, which have both made donations and provided clothing to wear on the day.

• Help donate at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Thomas-Heskine