Our son had a stroke in the womb – now we want him to have a full life

Emma’s pregnancy was normal up until the 20-week scan, when the couple were told there was a problem.

Dave, 47, said: “We went in expecting it to be routine and that day was anything but routine.

“They told us there were lots of anomalies on the scan and that started the process of us having to go in for weekly scans and be referred into foetal medicine.”

At the 25-week scan, Emma and Dave were told that Robin had suffered a stroke.

“When they said it, it was one of those moments of thinking that can’t be right, surely,” said Dave.

According to the Stroke Association, perinatal strokes – which happen in unborn and newborn babies – are very rare.

The couple, who have an older son, said the doctors did not know how it would affect Robin and whether he would survive.

Dave added: “We made a decision quite early on that if Robin was going to fight we would continue to fight and support him to get him out in the world.”

Robin was born at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham in February 2019, weighing 3lb 7oz.

He was given the middle name Buggsy after Dr George Bugg, the fetal consultant who supported the family.