A BEAMING Dorchester mum has welcomed home her miracle baby boy.

Otis James Stokes was born three weeks early on June 21 to Clare and Richard Stokes, of Wollaston Road, Dorchester.

Mum Clare described him as her ‘little miracle’ after the couple lost two babies last year.

She said: “We lost both the others late in the second trimester – it was so tragic.

“Otis is our miracle baby, he’s such a wonder after everything that’s happened.”

Richard said: “After last year I couldn’t believe it was going to be okay until he was there in front of us, breathing.

“It was a shock and such a relief.

“When we lost the other babies I just felt powerless, it was awful.”

Otis, who has two older brothers, Taylor and Henri, aged 14 and 11, weighed seven pounds and eight ounces when he was born.

Clare said: “It was a bit of an anxious time and going in to be induced was a bit daunting and quite scary.

“All the staff on the maternity ward were just brilliant, especially Jane Dodd and Liz Passells, the midwives who delivered him, and my consultant Audrey Ryan has been amazing through everything.

“It was really nice for them all to see that there’s been a happy ending to our story.”

She added: “It was just overwhelming when Otis came out, even now it feels surreal.

“He was quite badly tongue-tied, which meant he couldn’t move his tongue or feed, so they had to cut it.

“He also had a bit of a heart murmur and had to have an AEG scan, which he hated.

“I just can’t believe he’s home, it’s been such a long road.”

Clare, who has launched a campaign to raise money and awareness for Dorchester’s maternity ward, said: “People don’t realise how lucky we are to have such an amazing maternity ward.

“Everyone in the town has been so brilliant and so supportive with the appeal, which is great.”

 

Maternity ward fundraiser

The Dorset County Hospital Maternity Ward Appeal aims to raise awareness and money for the ward.

Dorchester’s Waitrose is supporting the campaign as one of its three Community Matters charities throughout July, which receive a share of £1,000 based on how many green tokens collected. There will be a charity football match at 6.30pm on Friday, August 3 at the Avenue Stadium and this year’s Antelope Walk Summer Fayre on Saturday, August 4 is also supporting the cause.