Scots girl who battled Covid at three weeks old excited to start school

A Scots girl who battled Covid at three weeks old is now thriving ahead of starting school.

Peyton Maguire, who battled the virus after being born eight weeks premature, was thought to be Scotland’s youngest Covid patient.

Mum Tracy and dad AJ were shocked when NHS Lanarkshire staff diagnosed their baby with the virus in April 2020.

Her remarkable story of survival made headlines around the globe, appearing in the media across the UK and as far away as New York and Australia.

Peyton Maguire, who battled the virus after being born eight weeks premature, was thought to be Scotland’s youngest Covid patient. NHS Lanarkshire

Peyton was delivered early by C-section after Tracy was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a condition that affects pregnant women, following an appointment with her community midwife.

The newborn was being cared for in an incubator in Wishaw’s neonatal unit when Tracy and AJ were told she had tested positive for coronavirus despite having none of the tell-tale symptoms of the condition.

Her parents say she knows about her brush with international fame, but just finds the whole thing “very funny”.

Now, at the age of five, Peyton can’t wait to begin classes at Aitkenhead Primary School in her home town of Uddingston.

Mum Tracy said: “The headteacher has joked that they’re about to have a celebrity join the school.”

She added: “She’s great except for a touch of asthma – it’s a real tribute to the staff who looked after her.

“I was so moved when I found out some of them had to live away from their own children during the pandemic but were caring for my baby.”

Tracy recalled: “We were told we’d have to stay away from Peyton for 14 days and isolate at home but I pleaded not to be apart from my baby for that long.

“The staff kindly agreed I could isolate with her in the hospital while AJ stayed at home.

“Watching the staff at work was incredible. They put their lives at risk to make sure my baby was getting fed and cuddled. Even wearing their PPE, they were determined to hold her.

“I found the same compassion when I had my second daughter, Harley, who’s nearly two now. She was also premature and needed extra care.

“Peyton was able to visit me and Harley in the maternity unit during the day and the staff were very happy to see her again.”

“We’ve been in so many papers, magazines and TV shows,” said Tracy, who, along with AJ, is a boxing coach.

“But the most worthwhile thing her story has led us to do was taking part in a conference for neonatal nurses, where I shared my experience.

“I was also amazed when a woman tapped me on the shoulder in the street and told me she’d read my story and it was the only reason she’d felt confident to go to hospital to have her baby during the pandemic.”

Cheryl Clark, NHS Lanarkshire director of midwifery, said: “We all remember Peyton so well, as caring for a newborn with Covid was a new experience for us all at that point.

“It’s great to hear how she’s doing and hard to believe that tiny, vulnerable baby is now a lively five-year-old who’s about to go to school.”