Browns mourn loss of baby.CHANCELLOR Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah are today mourning the loss of their 10-day-old baby daughter Jennifer Jane who died in their arms last night.The tiny baby lost her battle for life at an Edinburgh Hospital at 5.20pm, three days after suffering a brain haemorrhage. The devastated dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. couple left the Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion The Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion was the first purpose built maternity hospital in Edinburgh named after (Sir) James Young Simpson The hospital was incorporated into the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and is now located in Little France on the southern outskirts of the city in by car around an hour before the death was officially announced in a brief statement from the hospital. It said simply: "At 5.20pm today Jennifer Jane died peacefully in her parents' arms." A spokeswoman for the hospital said no further statement would be given last night. Last night, Prime Minister Tony Blair Noun 1. Tony Blair - British statesman who became prime minister in 1997 (born in 1953) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair, Blair offered his sympathy to the couple during a visit to Afghanistan. Clearly upset and with a faltering voice, Mr Blair said: "I feel so desperately sorry for Gordon and Sarah. I know how much Gordon was looking forward to being a father. "I know how proud they both were of Jennifer Jane and I know what wonderful parents they would have been to her. "I am afraid there is very little that anyone can say of comfort at such a time, with such a tragedy, but I hope it is of some comfort to them that I know everyone in our country will be thinking of them at this time and keeping them in their prayers and that's really all I wish to say." Jennifer Jane was transferred to the specialist neo-natal unit in Edinburgh on Friday after an ultrasound scan ultrasound scan Noun an examination of an internal bodily structure by the use of ultrasonic waves, esp. for diagnosing abnormality in a fetus detected the cerebral haemorrhage. There she was given round-the-clock care by a team of specialist doctors and nurses in Scotland's biggest neo-natal unit. However, the brain haemorrhage proved too much for her tiny body and she died - a day after being christened. Mr and Mrs Brown had kept a vigil at their daughter's side since she was admitted to the Edinburgh hospital. Jennifer was born seven weeks prematurely on December 28 by Caesarean section caesarean section: see cesarean section. following concerns about her development during a routine scan. She weighed just 2lb 4oz when she was delivered at the Forth Park Maternity Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife. Initially reports of her health were positive, her early jaundice jaundice (jôn`dĭs, jän`–), abnormal condition in which the body fluids and tissues, particularly the skin and eyes, take on a yellowish color as a result of an excess of bilirubin. cleared and she was breathing on her own and tolerating small amounts of food. During one of his visits to the Fife hospital, 50-year-old Mr Brown had spoken of how his daughter was doing well and was scarcely able to conceal his joy at her arrival. His wife was discharged from hospital last Thursday and although managing a brave smile for the waiting media, Mrs Brown looked upset at leaving her daughter behind. Few announcements were made on the baby's health until it was confirmed on Saturday that she had been transferred to the unit in Edinburgh. Then the Browns announced yesterday that her condition had deteriorated following a brain haemorrhage. Last night, the world of politics was united in offering sympathy to the couple. Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell Helen Liddell (born 6 December 1950, in Coatbridge, Scotland) is a British politician, was M.P. for Monklands East, then for Airdrie and Shotts from 1994 to 2005, and is British High Commissioner to Australia. said: "This is heartbreaking news. Baby Jennifer may have only known her parents for only a short time but she will have changed their lives forever." Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith George Iain Duncan Smith MP (born 9 April 1954), often referred to as IDS, is a British politician. He is Member of Parliament for the constituency of Chingford and Woodford Green. He was leader of the Conservative Party from 12 September 2001 to 6 November 2003. said his thoughts and prayers were with the Browns at this "devastating dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. " time. He said: "The loss of a child is the most devastating blow any family can suffer." Liberal Democrat Liberal Democrat Noun a member or supporter of the Liberal Democrats, a British centrist political party that advocates proportional representation Liberal Democrat n (BRIT) → leader Charles Kennedy said: "Our hearts go out to Gordon and Sarah Brown at this very sad time for them. I send them my deepest condolences and we must now all now respect their privacy." |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion