'We didn't know if our baby would survive': Castleford family kept together during fight for their son's life

When Carolyn Heptonstall gave birth to her son Oscar White, she believed the hardest part was over.

Induced at 37 weeks after scans showed he was small, she reassured herself that once he arrived, everything would be fine.

But within days, her family’s world was turned upside down.

Oscar was born at Pinderfields Hospital and initially appeared well, before developing a distressing grunt that led to his admission to neonatal intensive care.

Around 36 hours later, he suddenly became critically unwell.

Carolyn was told to call Oscar’s dad, Danny White, immediately, with doctors unsure if their newborn would survive.

Oscar had suffered a tension pneumothorax, a life-threatening condition where trapped air caused his heart and lungs to shift inside his chest.

As specialist transport teams worked urgently to stabilise him, the family faced the terrifying prospect of Oscar being transferred more than 60 miles away because local hospitals were full.

At the last moment, Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) was able to admit him – news Carolyn describes as an overwhelming relief.

Oscar was taken straight to paediatric intensive care, where he was ventilated, placed on multiple medications and fitted with chest drains.

While his condition initially stabilised, hope was short-lived. He went into cardiac arrest and required CPR. Hours later, it happened again, this time lasting 23 minutes.

“The fear was unbearable,” Carolyn said.

“Every alarm made us jump. We didn’t know if he would survive. We were terrified to leave his bedside, and terrified of what might happen if we weren’t there.

"At home, our five other children were waiting for news we didn’t know how to give.”

Doctors warned the family that the length of Oscar’s cardiac arrests meant there was a high risk of severe brain damage.

Although scans later showed a stroke and a blood clot, the damage was not as extensive as first feared.

Oscar continued to fight, baffling clinicians as new complications emerged alongside small signs of improvement.

During this time, The Sick Children’s Trust supported the Carolyn and Danny’s family at Eckersley House, their ‘Home from Home’ near LGI, providing a free warm and welcoming place to stay just minutes from Oscar’s bedside.

For nearly a month, Eckersley House became a lifeline. It allowed both parents to stay close to Oscar, while also enabling their five other children to visit, stay overnight and spend time together as a family during the summer holidays.

“For our six-year-old daughter Ava, it was especially important,” said Carolyn.

“She didn’t fully understand what was happening, only that her baby brother was very poorly. At Eckersley House, she could settle, play, and feel safe. It gave us moments of normality when life felt anything but normal.”

Providing a room for a family like the Carolyn and Danny’s costs The Sick Children’s Trust around £40 per night.

Without this support, the family says they would have faced impossible choices such as travelling long distances, sleeping in hospital corridors, or being separated at a time when they needed each other most.

After six weeks in hospital, Oscar was finally well enough to come home. Now thriving, he continues to attend follow-up appointments and is meeting his milestones.

“There was a time we didn’t know if we’d ever bring him home,” said Carolyn.

“The hospital saved our son’s life, and The Sick Children’s Trust kept our family together through the worst days we will ever face.

"We will always be grateful.”