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"I was a father for just two
hours"
01.09.12
Baby Lucy died from one
of world’s rarest conditions
By Linda McGrory
A YOUNG man has told of his heartache at having been
a father for just two hours as a rare condition
claimed the life of his precious baby daughter.
Eoghan Bell (21) cuddled infant Lucy and whispered
"baby talk" to her for the all-too brief spell she
survived in hospital.
He was only 20, his girlfriend just 19, when they
had to face losing their only child who was born a
month early on January 10, 2011.
The infant was suffering from what doctors believe
was the extremely rare Nager Syndrome, a condition
affecting the development of the face, airway and
limbs. Fewer than 200 cases have been documented
worldwide.
"We knew she wasn't going to survive for long. The
doctors had prepared us," says Eoghan, from Culdaff,
Co Donegal.
"She was born at 12.40pm in the Royal Victoria
Hospital in Belfast but only lived for a couple of
hours. We knew from about five or six months into
the pregnancy that there were problems.
“We held out a bit of hope, but we never really
expected her to live," said Eoghan. |
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Eoghan Bell cradles baby daughter,
Lucy, who sadly lived for only two hours. |
Sadly, he and Lucy's
Derry-born mother, split up shortly afterwards,
their huge loss a contributing factor, says Eoghan.
But he wouldn't swap the moments he had with his
child for anything.
"I'm so glad I got to see her and hold her and be
with her."
Eoghan, son of Eilish and Clive and brother of Aoife,
paid tribute to the charity Still Born and Neonatal
Deaths (SANDs) who supported the young parents
through their ordeal. They helped them put together
a ‘memory box’ including photographs of Lucy, her
footprints and baby clothes. “They really helped me
at a time I needed them,” he said. He also had high
praise for the "brilliant" nurses and doctors at the
Royal's maternity unit.
Eoghan's 46-year old athlete mother, Eilish, is
currently attempting to run a gruelling four
marathons in four days to raise money for SANDs and
the Donegal Hospice. She hopes to finishes her
‘Extreme North’ challenge this Sunday. |
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Eoghan Bell (21) from Culdaff who
lost his infant daughter, Lucy, to the extremely
rare Nager Syndrome. |
Meanwhile, Eoghan, who is in a new relationship, is
set to begin a degree course in media design at LYIT.
He says having lost a baby so young has focused his
mind on the future – one he hopes will include
children.
"I appreciate things a bit more. These experiences
make me want to be more prepared for the future," he
said. Donations can be made through the family or at
www.justgiving.com/Eilish-Bell-Quadrathon .
Sponsorship cards are also available in local shops. |
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