A Glasgow man hailed a hero during the “Beast from the East” storm of 2018 has thanked medical staff for safely delivering and caring for his premature baby girl, Mirren.

During the “Beast from the East”, Ross McKinnon and his team helped transport medical staff to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. Doctors and nurses relied on Ross to get to the hospital to work their shifts.

Four years later, Ross and his partner, Rachael, found themselves relying on the same medical staff he had helped during the storm.

Their newborn baby girl, Mirren, was born prematurely. She was found to have placenta previa, a condition where a baby’s placenta partially or wholly covers the mother’s cervix. Medics needed to keep baby Mirren inside the womb for as long as possible to allow her lungs to properly develop.

When she was born, on 4 February, Mirren was taken to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit for life-saving aid. Thankfully, she pulled through, thanks to the dedication and professionalism of hospital staff.

“Now it’s my turn to say thank you”

Ross said: “Now it’s my turn to say thank you to the doctors and nurses at the Queen Elizabeth. At the time of the Beast from the East, a lot was made of what we did. We knew we were doing a good thing, but we didn’t understand the gravity of the situation at the hospital and the difference we would make.

“It dawned on me why the hospital needed to get these doctors in. They have such intense jobs with round-the-clock observation and care.”

Jamie Redfern, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Director of Women and Children’s Services, said: “When the Beast from the East kicked off, Ross reached out to us, saying he had a well-equipped 4x4, and if anyone was vulnerable or needed to get to anyone vulnerable, [to] call him.

“He decided to concentrate on helping the staff involved with premature care and intensive care. He and his team gave us 48 hours of their time; just incredible. I am so glad we could be there for him, Rachael and baby Mirren, and we’re delighted she’s doing so well.”

“Fantastic” doctors and nurses help babies every day

SPUC’s Michael Robinson, Executive Director (Public Affairs and Legal Services), said: “Thanks to Ross’ efforts in 2018, premature babies continued to receive life-saving care, despite the horrific weather conditions that threatened to prevent hospital staff from working their shifts.

“Now, Ross has been able to experience first-hand the stellar work that those fantastic doctors and nurses do every day.

“All of us at SPUC are so happy that baby Mirren is still with her family. We wish them all the best for the future.”