When our little boy, Hefin Lloyd Jones, arrived at just 27 weeks and 5 days, our whole world changed in an instant. Nothing prepares you for being told your baby’s chances of survival are limited, that they might not make it. I remember feeling completely numb, terrified, and heartbroken all at once.
Hefin was taken straight to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and placed on High Flow oxygen and a CPAP mask to help him breathe. He looked so tiny and fragile, surrounded by wires and machines, yet there was a quiet strength about him even then.
Those first days and weeks were some of the hardest of our lives. Every day felt like a battle between hope and fear. Some days, Hefin would smash through his milestones, amazing the doctors and giving us so much hope. And then, without warning, he would take three steps back. It was a constant cycle of progress and setbacks that left us exhausted, scared, and somehow still holding on.
He spent six weeks in Glan Clwyd before being transferred to Ysbyty Gwynedd, where he stayed for another six weeks. The staff at Glan Clwyd were incredible, and they became our family when we needed one most. They comforted us on the bad days and celebrated the small wins right alongside us. We owe them everything.
After twelve long weeks, we finally got to bring Hefin home. He came home on low-flow oxygen, which he needed for a few more months, but it felt like such a huge step, like we had finally reached the light at the end of a very long tunnel.
Even now, 16 months later, it all still feels raw. The memories of the NICU, the alarms, the sleepless nights, the constant worry, never really leave you. But neither does the pride. Hefin fought so hard for his place in this world, and every smile, every giggle, every milestone since reminds us just how strong he is.
He is our little miracle, and we will forever be grateful to the incredible teams at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd for giving him the best possible start in life.