Arrowe Park Hospital's smallest baby becomes a father

Jul 8 2009 by Nick Moreton, Heswall News

HE was born at 24 weeks and weighed just 800 grams but now, 20 years later, Arrowe Park’s smallest baby has his own son.

Mohammed Al-Blushi spent five months on the neo-natal unit at Arrowe Park in 1989 and was even read the last rites on three occasions, as he battled for his first moments of life.

He survived, to the relief and joy of his mum, Dot, and now runs his own business in New Brighton.

And 20 years to the day since he was struggling in an incubator, Mohammed welcomed home his girlfriend, Samantha and their newborn son, Omar.

Mohammed said: “It feels amazing to be a father, fantastic.

“I was at the birth with Samantha and I’m really proud of her, she’s done a great job.”

Mohammed’s mum, Dot Maatalla, said of her son and first grandson: “It’s just amazing, absolutely amazing.

“To see my son alive after the massive care he was given and then to see the baby.

“It’s unbelievable, I just can’t put it into words.”

And Mohammed made such an impact on the sisters at the neo-natal unit, that they remember him to this day.

Senior neo-natal nurse, Valerie Dale told the News: “It’s fabulous, it’s just lovely.

“When I found out Mohammed’s girlfriend was expecting I just thought, how wonderful.

“He’s done so well.”

Bizarrely, just weeks before Samantha was due to give birth, the neo-natal unit welcomed another Mohammed, prompting memories of the tiny 10 inch baby who had passed so successfully through their doors 20 years before.

This 21st Century Mohammed only needed two weeks of care, but it made it all the more poignant when the new father went to visit the unit while on an appointment with Samantha.

Valerie added: “It’s really lovely, it really is.

“We have had babies through the unit in the past who have become parents themselves, but, for me, Mohammed was always one of my favourites.”

Mohammed dedicated the good news to his uncle, Arthur Griffiths, who died in September 2007.