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A Series of Miracles for a Baby Girl at Death's Door

06-02-2016
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 baby skye edwards

The story of a newborn baby girl's struggle to live, documented her first few months of life, has a happy ending more than a year later.

When CBN News heard of Baby Skye's miracle survival, we contacted her parents for an update on the baby girl so many prayed for across social media.

It all started 14 months ago for new parents, Craig and Gemma Edwards. April 20, 2015 Skye Edwards came into this world by C-section 4 days before her due date at Raigmore Hospital in Scotland. 

Like most parents, the Edwards considered Skye's birth a miracle. However, what happened next was a situation they would have never imagined.

Instantly doctors knew something was wrong. She was covered in a rash and had bruises all over her body due to low platelet levels. In the first 24 hours she went farther downhill. 

"If she'd been in me 3 hours longer, she would have died," said Gemma in an exclusive interview with CBN News.

"At one point we were told she was incapable of being transferred to another hospital," she said.

She was not expected to live, and her parents prepared to say good-bye. Baby Skye needed a multitude of miracles.

Hours from death, doctors worked to stabilize her severe, undiagnosed blood condition as the hospital chaplain came to say prayers for Skye and her family. 

"But for me also, she was on deaths door before the hospital chaplain prayed for her. After that, Skye was stable enough to be transferred," Gemma revealed.

"I believe medical science ultimately saved her because without that technology she would never have made it," Gemma Edwards said.

She was transferred from Raigmore Hospital to Yorkhill Children's Hospital 179 miles away. Skye flew and her parents and grandparents followed behind her by car. A 3 1/2 hour drive only 36 hours after her mother's C-section!

The doctors "took over her body" and placed her in a drug induced coma for a time. She was on a ventilator for about a week.

Once she became stable, she was transported back to their home in Inverness, Scotland. This time, Gemma was able to fly home with her.

Via Instagram, Gemma is still intouch with pilot Dan Woods who flew Skye in a specialized air ambulance between hospitals. She is hoping Skye will be able to meet him one day. 

Before she was born, her parents decided to name her Skye because they both liked the name.

"It was very poignant because 36 hours after her birth she was on an airplane in the sky," said Gemma.

During the waves of sickness Skye endured, her parents knew that she was a fighter.

In the midst of turmoil and uncertainty, Skye's mother made a Facebook page in the middle of the night to share her daughters story. As more and more people left encouraging comments, Gemma began to realize the amount of support her family had worldwide.

Gemma said, "People prayed for Skye all over the world and lit candles for her in Milan, America, Australia--I even heard of someone in Japan--people of all faiths prayed for her."

"At the time, I got a lot of comfort from people praying and I know it worked!"

When asked how Skye is doing today Gemma said, "It's quite a turn around from last year," she told CBN News.

After months of 2 blood transfusions and 7 platelet transfusions, Skye became a healthy baby girl.

"Miracles mean different things to different people. But more me, Skye was on the verge of death. For her to have survived what she's been through, is the definition of a miracle."

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service shared Skye's story on their Facebook page her birthday several weeks ago thanking the blood donors who helped save Skye's life. Blood donations save lives everyday and Skye's father Craig has become a platelet donor and Gemma's brother is a regular blood donor. 

The Ronald McDonald House Charity in Glasgow allowed Gemma and Craig to stay just across the road from the hospital so they could see Skye whenever they needed. Gemma says, "the change in the box at McDonalds fast food really does make a difference!"

"Skye to me is a miracle, an NHS (National Health Service of the UK) miracle, I cannot thank them enough," she said.

In a quote from Prayforabetterskye's Facebook page, Gemma writes:

"If you are reading this and there are dark clouds looming above, know that even if you can't see the stars to wish upon, know that there is a clear sky somewhere, and also this clear Skye--my bright, blue (eyed) Skye."

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