Can Someone Local Help

Parents' anguish as baby born 13 weeks early - in Spain
14 Feb 2013 07:32

Ellizeah Hilton was born weighing just 2lbs and her parents Zowie Lyons and Sam Hilton are keeping a bedside vigil but are rapidly running out of money
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Newborn Ellizeah Newborn Ellizeah

A mum and dad are facing an agonising wait in a Spanish hospital after their baby daughter was born 13 weeks early while they were on holiday.

Tiny Ellizeah Hilton, who weighed just 2lbs, is fighting for life with mum Zowie Lyons and dad Sam Hilton, from Rochdale, at her side in Alicante.

They were visiting Sam’s mother who lives on the Costa Blanca – more than an hour’s drive from the hospital – when Zowie suddenly went into labour.

The couple are staying in a guest house near the hospital but are rapidly running out of money a month after their daughter unexpectedly arrived.


Zowie and Sam with their daughter

Sam’s mum, Allison Treanor, 41, said: “It is an absolute nightmare. This is my first grandchild and I want to be able to do everything I can for her, but we are just so helpless. They have had to treat her in Alicante because it is a better hospital and so we are so far away.

“Sam and Zowie are staying in a bed and breakfast at the moment but have no money to stay out here and have said they will sleep on a bench outside the hospital if they have to.

“They go to see Ellizeah every day but have to leave the hospital at 6pm because of the Spanish regulations, so can’t stay with her at night. They were only meant to visit us for five days. It’s a terrible situation to be in.”

Ellizeah has already overcome a series of health problems and endured several operations, but still needs specialist care for problems with her intestines.

Sam, a former Middleton Technology School and Oldham College student is from Boarshaw in Rochdale. He recently moved to Leeds with Zowie, a restaurant manager, to be near her parents after the birth.

Midwives had given Zowie, 25, the all-clear to travel – but she went into labour at 27 weeks, shortly after arriving in?Spain.

The couple were visiting Allison and her partner, Alan Orme, as part of Sam’s 20th birthday celebrations.

Allison, who moved to Spain last July with Alan and their five-year-old daughter, Ella-Louise, said: “They are doing terribly. They are not eating at all and all they care about is getting Ellizeah better.

“They urgently need help and we and the friends we have made out here are doing all we can but it is not enough.

“If anyone back home has a place in the area they could stay, help them with money, or help in any other way, we’d really like them to get in touch.”

Anyone able to help can email Allison at [email protected]

Story from Manchester News. FULL STORY plus PHOTOS http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/zowie-lyons-sam-hilton-rochdale-1317342