Robyn Chambers, born prematurely at just 11 ounces, has spent her entire life in the hospital. Her parents, Chantelle and Daniel, knew she would be tiny due to her early arrival, but it wasn’t until doctors and nurses expressed their surprise that they realized the true magnitude of her size. In fact, she is not only the smallest baby ever born in the hospital where she was delivered, but also in all of Wales.
Image VIA SOURCE (PHOTO CREDIT: Daniel Chambers)
Weighing a mere 328 grams, Robyn narrowly missed the title of the smallest baby ever born in the UK, previously held by baby Hannah who weighed 325 grams when she was born in Glasgow. Robyn’s premature birth occurred at just 23 weeks and two days gestation after Chantelle experienced a premature rupture of membranes at 22 weeks. At that fragile stage, the couple had little hope for Robyn’s survival.
Leading up to her birth, Chantelle’s pregnancy had been smooth sailing until her 20-week anomaly scan revealed a problem. She was immediately admitted to the hospital and placed on bed rest. Three weeks and two days later, Robyn was born breach, with her body entering the world before her head. Doctors quickly sprang into action, intubating her and placing her in a sandwich bag to preserve her warmth and vital organs.
Robyn’s journey has been filled with ups and downs. She faced intense challenges and numerous medical interventions, including sepsis, blood transfusions, lumbar punctures, and countless tests. Her delicate skin was so thin that she couldn’t wear clothes until she was three months old. The struggle to gain weight persisted, with Robyn reaching just 1kg three months after birth.
Despite these obstacles, she has proved to be a tiny warrior, surpassing expectations at every turn. Although she now weighs close to 8lbs, her battle is far from over. With severe brain damage resulting from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy at birth, she will likely face visual and mobility impairments. However, her parents firmly believe that with the right therapies and treatment, Robyn has a chance to improve, having already shown significant progress in recent months.
“As parents we are totally devastated for Robyn,” Chantelle said. “She has overcome so many obstacles in her short life already. She truly is a tiny warrior. However, we believe with the right therapies and treatment Robyn will have a chance of improving. She has already shown massive improvement over the last few months.”
Currently awaiting transfer to Noah’s Ark Hospital at Cardiff’s University Hospital of Wales for specialized care, Robyn’s family is in a challenging position. Her father, a self-employed builder, had to give up work as they both take turns spending time with their daughter. It’s a difficult journey, but their focus remains on Robyn’s well-being and the challenges they will face when they eventually leave the hospital.
“We do 12 hour shifts each,” Daniel explained. “It is hard as we only get to see each other for two hours or so a day. But we have to be there for Robyn as she can stop breathing, they don’t know whether she suffers with sleep apnoea, so we are waiting for that. We have to be there to bring her round as it is likely something we are going to have to learn to live with when we leave hospital.”
To support Robyn and her family, they are seeking donations to cover the cost of her specialist treatment, any necessary home adaptations, and ongoing care. If you would like to donate, please visit the Crowdfunding site.
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