|
|
Donegal mother shares story of
baby's health scare
22.03.19
DONEGAL mother Bella
Ward has shared her heart-breaking story of when one
of her twin daughters was born prematurely in a
critical condition.
Baby Kayleigh was born with serious cardiac
conditions and had to be airlifted to Crumlin
hospital where she received life-saving world-class
care.
Bella said she'll ‘never forget’ the kindness of the
nurses in Crumlin Hospital and said that she will
always have a special place in her heart for the
Children’s Medical Research Foundation (CMRF)
Crumlin.
CMRF Crumlin raises vital funds for Crumlin hospital
and the National Children’s Research Centre (NCRC).
“My twin girls Kayleigh and Emily were born in
Letterkenny Hospital at 34 weeks but when they were
one week old a nurse from the neonatal unit called
us at 3am,” Bella said. |
 |
|
Twin babies Kayleigh and Emily |
“She told us Kayleigh
was in a critical condition. It was terrifying. We
didn’t know what was happening. We were so lucky the
girls were in the neonatal unit and the team acted
immediately. We knew something serious was wrong
with Kayleigh’s heart and a team from the Rotunda
stabilised our baby girl so she could be airlifted
to Crumlin Hospital. She was far too ill to travel
by road. My husband and I drove to Dublin after her
and it was without doubt the worst journey of our
entire lives.”
Five years on, Kayleigh is thriving.
“Kayleigh has annual appointments in Crumlin
Hospital now but luckily she hasn’t had to stay
there since she was seven months old when she was in
for her aorta again. She and Emily are the best of
friends.
"They mind each other and they’re doing great in
school. Their personalities are very different;
Emily is quite shy, while Kayleigh is outgoing and
confident. I think that’s because of her experience
in the hospital." |
 |
|
Twin girls Kayleigh and Emily 'are
the best of friends'. |
Bella recalled the
"scariest" time of their lives. “When Kayleigh was
in hospital it was the scariest time for our family.
We have such a huge amount of respect for Crumlin.
My daughter wouldn’t be alive without the gifted,
exceptional people working there. They’re like a
family. They take care of you too. Crumlin Hospital
is a very special place.”
CMRF Crumlin was established in 1965 and is the
principal fundraising body for Our Lady’s Children’s
Hospital, Crumlin and the National Children’s
Research Centre. It fundraises for research into the
cause, treatment, care and prevention of children’s
illness and disease.
Bella Ward urged the public to donate whatever they
can afford to
www.cmrf.org . |
|
