In the early hours of October 29, 2019, Vickie and Rohan Carr’s world was turned upside down, as shared in a Mirror article. Their unborn child, Larenz, was just 25 weeks and four days along in the womb when doctors informed them that the placenta was failing, and immediate action was required to save their baby. It was a terrifying moment for the young couple, as they didn’t know if their precious son would survive.
“Larenz looked quite scary when I first laid eyes on him,” recalls Vickie, a 29-year-old driving instructor. “He was like a little alien with his skin all shiny and see-through.” At birth, Larenz weighed a mere 13 ounces – the same as a tin of soup – and was so delicate that his organs could be seen through his translucent skin. His tiny, fragile body was highly susceptible to the cold, leaving the doctors at St. Michael’s Hospital in Bristol struggling to keep him warm.
With the instinctual care of medical professionals, the situation called for an extraordinary solution: doctors at the hospital came up with a resourceful, DIY method to keep the baby warm. “They popped him in a sandwich bag and bubble wrap to keep him warm,” says Vickie, marveling at the ingenuity and compassion that saved her son’s life.
While his start in life was fraught with uncertainty, Larenz’s journey was one of miraculous survival. Despite his extreme premature birth, the decision to use such unconventional measures helped stabilize him in those critical early days. And, over time, the child who once seemed so frail and delicate began to show signs of strength and resilience. Now, at 19 months old, Larenz is far from the fragile newborn he once was.
“He’s walking and he’s so determined,” Vickie says, her voice filled with pride. “People hear how small a newborn he was and can’t believe how incredible he is.” Today, Larenz weighs 20 pounds and is thriving, with no developmental delays and is even starting nursery. His medical team has confirmed that he is meeting every milestone for his age.
The Carr family’s story is a powerful reminder of the miracle of life, the strength of faith, and the profound love that can overcome the most daunting of challenges. In times of despair and uncertainty, Vickie and Rohan leaned on their faith, trusting in God’s plan for their son’s survival.
Vickie reflected on the heart-wrenching experience as the couple’s lives were forever altered. “It was terrifying. I had no idea if my baby would make it,” she recalls. Yet through this journey, the family witnessed God’s grace in action, as Larenz’s strength and determination revealed the divine purpose that had always been within him.
In the midst of the pandemic lockdown, just as the first lockdown was announced, Larenz finally came home from the hospital. His return was an emotional and joyous occasion for Vickie and Rohan. “We got home the same week that the first lockdown was announced,” says Vickie. “It was scary. He could have still been in hospital and just one of us would have been able to see him.”
Larenz’s journey to health is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and it also speaks to the enduring power of love and faith. Vickie’s words capture the profound nature of the experience: “It’s incredible that medics saved him by popping him in a sandwich bag and bubble wrap to keep him warm.”
Today, Larenz’s family is grateful for the continued health of their son. “He’s just amazing,” says Vickie. “He’s walking and he’s so determined.” The tiny baby, once fragile and dependent on bubble wrap for survival, has grown into a young child full of life and potential. This remarkable story of survival serves as a reminder that with God’s grace and the support of loving hands, even the most vulnerable can be saved.
And perhaps the most heartwarming part of this story is Larenz’s love for bubble wrap, a joyful connection to the very thing that kept him alive during his early days. As Vickie lovingly shares, “I’ve even spotted him playing with bubble wrap.” It’s a reminder that miracles, small and large, are often found in the most unexpected of places.
For Vickie and Rohan, this miraculous journey is a testament to God’s will and the love and ingenuity that surround us in times of greatest need. Larenz’s story is not only a tale of survival but a testament to the sanctity of life and the power of faith, reminding us all of the incredible miracles that God works in our lives each day.
