Dying gran's precious moments with baby

Gordon Macrae with his daughter Rachel and grandson Ethan.

A GRIEVING husband has told how his dying wife was able to meet their newborn grandson just hours before she slipped into a final coma.

The precious, poignant moments were made possible by the Highland Hospice as Nicky Macrae was taken from there by ambulance to the Special Care Baby Unit at Raigmore Hospital where grandson Ethan had been delivered early.

Her husband Gordon (54) told the heartbreaking story to the Highland News this week just as he and his family are embarking on a mammoth fund-raising drive in memory of Nicky who died just three days after the touching encounter.

In fact, Gordon is so keen to raise money in his wife’s honour he is also taking part in Strictly Inverness 2011, which is being supported by the Highland News in aid of the Highland Hospice and the Inverness Ice Centre.

Nicky passed away in October – less than a month after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. She was just 53 years old.

But the family were left with some comfort after the hospice arranged for Nicky to meet her grandson just an hour after he was born.

Gordon, who works in Inverness as a social worker with Highland Council, explained: "My daughter Rachel was due to give birth to Ethan at the end of October but Raigmore agreed to give her a C-section early so that Nicky could meet him. We knew Nicky was not going to live until Ethan was due.

"Rachel went for the section on October 7 and Ethan had to go to the SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit) because he had fluid on his lungs.

"Initially it was planned that Nicky would be taken to Raigmore in a wheelchair taxi. However, she was deteriorating and the staff at the hospice realised she needed an ambulance. Within 40 minutes of me calling to say Ethan had been born, they had arranged everything."

He added the staff at Raigmore Hospital were also amazing and even created room in SCBU to accommodate Nicky’s hospital bed.

Nicky Macrae who died shortly after meeting her newborn baby grandson.

"It meant everything to Nicky and to us as a family, that she was able to meet Ethan. She got to hold his hand and we have pictures of her with him. She got to spend an hour with him. It means so much to us and to Rachel."

Just hours after meeting her grandson, Nicky slipped into a coma and died three days later.

"She met Ethan on the Thursday morning and then on Thursday night she drifted into a sleep and never really woke up," explained Gordon who has four children, two foster children and two grandchildren.

"I think it was luck that she managed to hold on until he was born. She died three days later."

He added: "What the hospice did was just so unbelievable. They were so, so good to her.

"Up until Nicky went into the hospice, obviously I knew what it was, but I didn’t realise the good work that they did – they went above and beyond for us. She wanted for nothing.

"In fact after they had taken her to the hospital, I asked them how much I owed them for arranging everything and of course they said it was what they do. I was taken aback.

"It was the little things that meant a lot as well. For example one night Nicky fancied cornflakes, but they never had any so one of the members of staff went out and got her some. Also my eldest son William lives in Inverness so he was staying in the hospice until very late most nights. They didn’t mind at all. Those little touches made it bearable."

Now Gordon, who lives in Tain, and his family which includes William (35), Rachel (22) Nadia (21), John (18) and two foster children are hoping to raise £10,000 this year for the hospice.

Gordon is not only taking part in Strictly Inverness 2011, but his whole family are also going to do the Inverness Half Marathon next month in aid of the hospice.

"We just want to give something back," said Gordon who was married to Nicky for 34 years and said it was love at first sight.

"It was my daughter-in law Linsey’s idea to take part in Strictly. Me and Nicky loved the BBC show but I never thought I would get picked. I just want to do my best in memory of her and raise as much money as I can."