BABY Kenzie Donaldson came into the world with a bang a year ago this week, after doctors decided to deliver her as the Cockenzie Power Station chimneys were coming down.

The youngster was born two and a half months early and weighed a tiny 3lb when she arrived on the day of the demolition, on September 26, 2015.

And it proved a doubly emotional day for dad Gary, who started his working life as a 15-year-old apprentice at the power station and was watching the chimneys come down when he received a call to get to hospital.

READ MORE: A look back at the Cockenzie Power Station chimneys demolition, one year on

Kenzie’s mum Samantha said: “I had been in hospital for a couple of weeks with pre-eclampsia, when the doctors announced at noon that I was going to have an emergency caesarean.

“It was the first day Gary had not been to visit in the morning and I had told him to stay and watch the chimney demolition because it meant so much to him.

“I had to call him just as they came down, he was saying ‘the chimneys are gone’ and I was saying ‘you have to come to the hospital now’.

“He faced a struggle to get through the traffic, there were thousands of cars there, but he made it to the hospital in time.

“And, of course, we had to call her Kenzie.”

East Lothian Courier:

On Monday, Kenzie and her parents, who live on Poplar Park, Port Seton, celebrated her first birthday, and mum Samantha and Kenzie visited the neo-natal unit at Simpson’s Maternity Unit, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, to catch up with the nursing staff who cared for them during her first weeks.

Samantha said: “Kenzie was so tiny when she was born and had to spend her first six weeks in hospital, but now she is absolutely thriving and it was lovely to be able to see the nurses again and let them see how well she is doing.

“They couldn’t believe how big she was, she has amazed everyone.”

Baby Kenzie came through two brain bleeds and treatment for jaundice following her early arrival but has amazed doctors, and her parents, with her recovery.

East Lothian Courier:

Mum Samantha said: “She has had no long-term issues following her early birth and has met all her markers. We are thrilled, she has done so well.”

Dad Gary worked for the power station for 17 years until it closed and his family have long ties with it. His brother also worked there and their grandfather, Alan Millar, was one of the team that helped build the facility.

Samantha, 34, who works for Midlothian Council, said the power station had played an important part in the family’s life.

She said: “When Gary worked there, he was able to walk to work from home and, of course, there was a family connection, so when the chimneys came down it was an emotional day.

“We will never forget the day the chimneys came down because it was the day Kenzie was born so It will always be a special day in our memory.”