Joy for Dumbarton couple after heartbreak

Jul 3 2009 by Amanda McKendrick, Lennox Herald (main ed)

A COUPLE whose first two children were born with a fatal genetic condition have given birth to a healthy baby girl.

Thrilled Anne and Mark Hollern welcomed little Roxie Joy into the world last Wednesday at Glasgow’s Queen Mother’s Hospital.

The tot is free from debilitating Infantile Battens Disease, which claimed the life of her brother Robbie, 6, last year and affects her four-year-old sister Rosie, who faces a daily battle against the condition.

Mark, 36, said: “Last year, after Robbie passed away, we went on holiday ourselves to Cyprus.

“There were a lot of families there and we decided we were still young enough to give it another go.

“Up until then we weren’t going to put ourselves through even thinking about having more children.

“But we knew the day would come when it would just be me and Anne and we didn't want that.”

Anne added: “After Robbie, my attitude was that when Rosie’s time comes I don’t think I’ll be able to go on. I would have no reason to get up in the morning.

“When we decided to have another baby, we were then back to the genetics and we knew there was a one in four chance of any baby having Battens.”

She continued: “I fell pregnant right away but couldn’t have the test which identifies Battens until I was 10 and a half weeks.

“When the midwife said the baby didn’t have Battens and wasn’t even a carrier I came off the phone howling. I had to stop myself from phoning back all day just to double check she had given me the right result.”

At her next visit Anne, 38, found out she was expecting a little girl and the couple chose the name Roxie Joy for their new arrival.

“I wanted to incorporate hope or joy into it because of everything that has happened,” said Anne.

“People were overjoyed for us but it took me until I was about six months to start telling people I was pregnant. I just couldn’t get the words out. It took so long for it to sink in that it was good news for a change.

“Although I knew she didn’t have Battens, I was worried right up until she was born. I was desperate to see her and make sure everything was alright.”

A few weeks before Roxie’s birth, Rosie took ill and was admitted to Yorkhill Hospital. Mark stayed the night to allow Anne to go home to rest but at 2am doctors told him to call his wife after the toddler took a turn for the worse.

Mark said: “She was struggling for breath and we told doctors to do whatever they could to give her every chance. We weren’t going to give up on her.

“Luckily she got back to normal and has been fine since.”

Anne was induced on June 23 and the following day at 9.10pm gave birth to 8lb 2oz Roxie Joy.

Anne said: “I was just in shock. I literally stared at her for hours. I couldn’t believe she was here and she was okay.

“The first two nights I couldn’t sleep at all for watching her.”

Mark, who cut the baby’s cord, added: “It was quite emotional. I phoned round family first then friends like Kenny Bissland who helped raise money for the kids. I sent him and a few other close friends a photograph of the baby and I think it has worked its way round the whole Vale already. My phone hasn’t stopped ringing. Everyone is delighted for us.

“Even when we are knackered and are going nights without sleep you think it’s not that big a deal when she’s here and she’s healthy.

“It was such a fantastic result for her, not only for her not to have Battens but for her not be a carrier. It was doubly brilliant.”

Despite the couple’s obvious joy, they say nothing could ever take Robbie’s place in their hearts.

Anne said: “We’ll tell Roxie all about her big brother, Robbie. His photographs are all over the house. He is all around us.

“We still miss Robbie terribly and Rosie is just turning into his image. It’s like seeing him all over again which is nice.

“In the days before Roxie was born I kept getting this vision of Robbie wearing his school uniform and holding my hand. Maybe that was him letting me know he’s still with me.”