Thar Shaddin

I don't care what religion you are. I don't care what god/s you worship. Please.

At 18:54 yesterday evening, a baby was born to my girlfriend's sister, Joanne. Her and her partner were elated, having lost a baby to Eclampsia in September 2005.

His name is Matthew Swallow. He is one day old today.

At around 08:00 this morning, my girlfriend got a phone call, after which she started trying to reach me.... I was suitably unconscious at this time of day, and so didn't answer. I woke up to 32 missed calls.

Initially, the hospital in Ormskirk, where he was born, thought he had a hole in the heart. Now, after being transferred the risky hour's journey to Manchester's special baby unit, they believe it to be some kind of infectious disease.

His little lungs have collapsed, and his bloodpressure is at rock bottom. The pressure in his lungs is insanely high, and he can't be ventilated... at one point today his O2 sats dropped to 50%.

Nobody deserves to lose one child, never mind two. Please, pray/libate/whatever for him and his parents, Dave and Jo.

Already on it mate.

you got it.

Sure thing.

Thank you. I'm building them a small website, with some kind of guestbook, which I'll hopefully have up on a free hosting and domain at some point during the evening, I will also personally pass on everyone's well-wishes when I can.

Wow. Absolutely.

As I mentioned to you, I'll be lighting a candle for them.

Prayers and best wishes for this poor little one.

A message from my girlfriend:

hi my names Rebecca i am Matthews auntie(Xyons gf)i just want to say thankyou to everyone for your prayers and the messages of support.i may not know you but your kind words touch my heart and hopefully with so many people praying for him and keeping him in their thoughts he will pull through.thankyou Rebecca

My thanks also to all who have offered support. The website can be found here and is very much an ongoing work in progress, since we've all got a lot going on right now.

I know that your support means a lot to the parents, they have said as much in the little contact I have had with them. It certaintly means a lot to the rest of the family.

Yet another reason to love this place. *hands everyone cookies*

Hey Xy,
I read that and felt an immediate sense of sadness. As many of you know, me and the wife have been having some problems, and she is getting kicked out of the navy. We both read that and felt like we were being stupid about feeling sorry for ourselves when there are people out there, that are off much worse than us. I'm not very religious but I will wish with all my heart that they are safe. My wife is sending her prayers and best wishes and is going to ask her parents to do the same. Keep us posted please?

We will do our best to keep everyone informed. If I suddenly disappear for days, then all is very not well.

There are plans to open a guestbook on the website; in fact, I'm tinkering with the code simultaneously to writing this. It'll be up in a few hours, I would think.

They have my best wishes too xyon.

Thank you.

Those words don't mean enough.

He made it through the night. Blood pressure has risen to 50. He's by no means in the clear but it's promising stuff.