When Taylor Aiken was born seven years ago, doctors gave him a 50/50 chance of leaving the hospital alive.
He was born 14 weeks before his due date and spent 11 weeks in hospital before he could go home with his parents.
On Wednesday, his mother and father were filled with a range of emotions as they straightened their son’s tie, put his suitcase on his back and sent him off to his first day of “big school” at Sunridge Primary.
“I’m excited to start school today.
“I was afraid we might be late because the traffic was bad, but luckily we made it,” Taylor said as he made the walk from the car to the school gate.
Looking at the tears welling up in his parents’ eyes , it was clear that the first day of school would be easier for him than it would be for Marc and Jill.
“Ever since he left the hospital we view every event, no matter how small, as a milestone,” Marc said.
“Today it felt like we were sending him out into the real world, and the last couple of days have been quite an emotional time for us.”
In August 2016, the couple were holidaying in Cape Town, and while shopping at Canal Walk, Jill’s water broke and she had to be rushed to the Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital for an emergency C-section.
Taylor weighed 1.45kg, his hand could fit inside his father’s wedding ring, and he had bleeding on his skull.
He spent the next 60 days in an incubator, received three blood transfusions, and only thereafter could his parents pick him up for the first time.
After 71 days in hospital, he was released, still three weeks shy of his expected due date, and his departure left parents and hospital staff in tears.
VIDEO | First day of big school for little fighter Taylor
New Sunridge pupil beats the odds after being born 14 weeks premature
Image: RIAAN MARAIS
When Taylor Aiken was born seven years ago, doctors gave him a 50/50 chance of leaving the hospital alive.
He was born 14 weeks before his due date and spent 11 weeks in hospital before he could go home with his parents.
On Wednesday, his mother and father were filled with a range of emotions as they straightened their son’s tie, put his suitcase on his back and sent him off to his first day of “big school” at Sunridge Primary.
“I’m excited to start school today.
“I was afraid we might be late because the traffic was bad, but luckily we made it,” Taylor said as he made the walk from the car to the school gate.
Looking at the tears welling up in his parents’ eyes , it was clear that the first day of school would be easier for him than it would be for Marc and Jill.
“Ever since he left the hospital we view every event, no matter how small, as a milestone,” Marc said.
“Today it felt like we were sending him out into the real world, and the last couple of days have been quite an emotional time for us.”
In August 2016, the couple were holidaying in Cape Town, and while shopping at Canal Walk, Jill’s water broke and she had to be rushed to the Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital for an emergency C-section.
Taylor weighed 1.45kg, his hand could fit inside his father’s wedding ring, and he had bleeding on his skull.
He spent the next 60 days in an incubator, received three blood transfusions, and only thereafter could his parents pick him up for the first time.
After 71 days in hospital, he was released, still three weeks shy of his expected due date, and his departure left parents and hospital staff in tears.
“Right from day one he showed us he was a fighter.
“He won’t let anything get him down, and I don’t expect school to be any different,” Jill said, wiping away a tear as she stood outside the school gates.
“For now, we just want him to get used to the new environment.
“We don’t want to put any expectations on him, but he understands that school will be hard work and he will have to give it his all if he wants to do well.”
Taylor is fond of numbers, loves playing soccer and is obsessed with Portuguese football star Cristiano Renaldo.
Unfortunately, Sunridge does not offer soccer as a sport, but he participates at a Gqeberha-based club, and Marc hopes his son can find a summer sport at school that he loves.
“The school offers so many other activities, and we want him to have a fulfilling school experience and become involved as much as possible.
“We can’t wait to stand on the sidelines and cheer him on,” Marc said.
“Obviously, we don’t want to pressure him, but we want him to try as many things as possible so that he can find his passions and develop his talents.
“We cannot wait to see our son realise his full potential.”
HeraldLIVE
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