Uddingston girl who had Covid as newborn begins school
Mum Tracy and dad AJ were shocked when NHS Lanarkshire staff diagnosed their newborn with the virus at the start of the pandemic.
Peyton (Image: Supplied) At that point, she was believed to be the youngest child with the virus.
Born eight weeks premature, Peyton bounced back after treatment at University Hospital Wishaw.
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Tracy said: "She's great except for a touch of asthma – it's a real tribute to the staff who looked after her.
"I was so moved when I found out some of them had to live away from their own children during the pandemic but were caring for my baby."
(Image: Supplied) Peyton will begin classes on August 14 at Aitkenhead Primary School, with her mother joking that the headteacher has "joked that they're about to have a celebrity join the school."
Tracy, 32, was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia during pregnancy and delivered Peyton by caesarean section.
Shortly afterwards, Peyton tested positive for Covid-19 during routine screening.
(Image: Supplied) Tracy said: "We were told we'd have to stay away from Peyton for 14 days and isolate at home but I pleaded not to be apart from my baby for that long.
"The staff kindly agreed I could isolate with her in the hospital while AJ stayed at home.
"Watching the staff at work was incredible.
"They put their lives at risk to make sure my baby was getting fed and cuddled.
"Even wearing their PPE, they were determined to hold her."
Peyton, who predicts her favourite school subject will be break time, has added to her wardrobe a new red dress as her school uniform.
She also has a schoolbag in her favourite colour, pink.
Cheryl Clark, director of midwifery at NHS Lanarkshire, said: "We all remember Peyton so well, as caring for a newborn with Covid was a new experience for us all at that point.
"It's great to hear how she's doing and hard to believe that tiny, vulnerable baby is now a lively five-year-old who's about to go to school."
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