First words are always a momentous occasion for any parent. However,
when
your child is born with a developmental issue, it is even more
special. Emma Murray was absolutely floored when she heard her
two-year-old say, “Mummy” for the first time. It was an absolute miracle
because baby Aaron was never supposed to be able to talk.
Baby Aaron
Murray, 24, gave birth to baby boy
Aaron in 2013. She was absolutely heartbroken when doctors told her that
her newborn son was born with an extremely rare condition called
holoprosencephaly.
Holoprosencephaly
Holoprosencephaly leaves people
“incompatible with life.” Aaron was only born with a brain stem, but he
does not have a full brain nor the abilities that a full brain would
give him. He is only able to breathe and move with a brain stem.
Grim Outlook
Aaron’s mother was told to invite her
closest friends and family to the hospital when he was born so that they
were able to say goodbye to the baby. He was not expected to live.
However, two years later, Aaron is still living, breathing, laughing and
clapping his hands.
A Miracle
Baby Aaron has surprised doctors by
his survival alone. The family was even more surprised when the
two-year-old spouted his first word, “Mummy,” for the first time. The
tot has gone from no chance of survival to a laughing, moving and
talking baby.
Days To Years
Twenty-four-year-old Murray said.
“When Aaron was first born, I was told there was no way he could
survive. I was told he might live for three minutes, three hours or
three days. The doctors told me if it had been any of his other organs
which had failed to grow, they would have been able to do something but
they couldn't grow him another brain.”
A Fighter
His mother says, “Right from the very
beginning, Aaron proved he is a real fighter.” He came across the word
“mummy” after she was saying it to him over and over while clapping her
hands. “He looked at me, and said ‘mummy,’” she said. “I couldn't
believe it. I'd been told my son would only live for a few minutes, but
now here he was saying 'mummy' which is something I never thought I
would ever hear.”
Surprise Baby
Murray had no clue she was pregnant
with Aaron until she was in labor. When she arrived to the hospital in
March 2013, she thought that she had a burst appendix, but when she
found out she was actually having a baby, she was definitely surprised.
Everything Happened Fast
“Everything had happened so fast. I
didn't even know I was pregnant, I'd given birth and been told my baby
was going to die all in the same 24 hours,” Murray said.
Surprises
Hearing Aaron’s voice was an absolute
surprise to his mother and other family members who never thought they’d
hear him speak. “I never thought I would ever hear him say anything at
all - I burst into tears when he said 'mummy.' It was the most amazing
thing I've ever heard in my whole life,” Murray said.
Steps Forward
Since turning one, Aaron has been
taking many steps forward. Sometimes it is one step forward and two
steps back with his condition, but since Aaron hit age one he has been
taking way more steps forward than back. Because of his newest
development, his family plans to have a large get together for Christmas
so that the entire family can see him while he is doing well.
