Mother and baby fighting for their lives

A young mum is fighting for her life after suffering a heart attack while visiting her premature baby in hospital.

North Shore resident Kate Meldrum gave birth to daughter Ruby on May 6 after 26 weeks, five days gestation, with Ruby weighing 530 grams.

While visiting Ruby in Auckland City Hospital’s newborn intensive care unit on May 21, Meldrum started complaining of chest pains, sister Steph Everest said. The 29-year-old then suffered a ruptured heart valve and was rushed into emergency open-heart surgery.

Everest said Meldrum was put on life support but was slowly being brought out of sedation.

‘‘She’s very, very sick,’’ Everest said.

‘‘Our other concern at the moment is that she’s potentially had some kind of brain damage because we don’t know how long she went without oxygen when she had her heart attack.’’

Everest said Meldrum was diagnosed with lupus as an early teen giving her kidney, liver and circulation issues.

Her sister and niece being in hospital was a nightmare. ‘‘I’ve got two kids under 5, so no tears at home when we can,’’ she said.

Meldrum’s partner, Joe Turner, was being incredibly strong, and spent his days going back and forth between Meldrum and their daughter, she said.

Ruby was doing OK but had been put back on a ventilator after an ‘‘episode’’ on Sunday night, Everest said.

‘‘She’s suffering from apnoea. ‘‘Because she’s so little, she forgets to breathe sometimes and her oxygen saturation levels get quite low.’’

Ruby had put on about 100g since her birth, Everest said.

‘‘She’s a wee fighter like her mum.’’

The family has set up a Givealittle page to help Turner with accommodation, transport and expenses.

Everest said Turner had to take a leave of absence from work and it would kill them financially.

More than $12,700 had been raised on the page as of 9am yesterday.