Baby Olly’s parents tell of heartache
The parents of a two-monthold boy who died after developing a rare condition have spoken for the first time about their heartbreaking loss.
Georgie and Will Yerbury attended the inquest into the death of their two-month-old identical twin Olly, who passed away after a series of health problems after birth. Olly and brother Austin were born nine weeks prematurely at the Royal United Hospital.
During an early scan, it was discovered Olly’s left kidney was abnormal, Flax Bourton Coroner’s Court was told.
Georgie, from Frome, attended the hospital on June 25, 2019, after her contractions started. Over the next hour and 40 minutes, staff had difficulty picking up the babies’ heartbeats on a scanning machine.
A care plan was discussed as neonatal units in Bath and at St Michael’s Hospital in Bristol were full. Staff slowed Georgie’s labour and she remained at Bath.
Olly was born just after 10.30pm and Austin around four minutes later.
Olly was born with an abnormal left kidney. He developed ongoing breathing difficulties shortly after birth and a decision was made to intubate him.
It took three attempts to place the breathing tube so he could be intubated.
After more difficulties with the connection between Olly’s oesophagus and trachea, he was transferred to St Michael’s Hospital for further management.
Just six days after being transferred, Olly underwent surgery to try to fix a perforation in his windpipe.
Olly then developed chylothorax, a rare condition where fluid leaks in between the lung and chest wall.
This can cause a build-up of fluid and subsequent chest pain and breathing difficulties. For Olly, this affected his kidney function and his condition deteriorated.
Will and Georgie sought the opinion of specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital but Olly became too unwell to be transferred and died on September 10, 2019.
This was ten months on from Will and Georgie finding out they were expecting again after having their first daughter Penny.
The couple said after the inquest: “We were overjoyed when we found out that we were expecting again and when we found out it was identical twins it made it all the more special.
“It was such an exciting time but that excitement became fear and worry when Olly and Austin were born.
“It was such a distressing and upsetting time and it was horrible to see Olly hooked up to machines and tubes.
“He was such a fighter but sadly it all got too much for him. Having to say goodbye to him is the hardest thing we’ll ever have to do.
“Once the initial numbness wore off we knew we needed to find out more as to why Olly died. It was such a difficult time.
“We just had an overload of information, none of which really made any sense. It felt that every time we asked for help people didn’t want to listen.
“We were totally out of our depth so once we found someone to represent us it was like a burden had been lifted. An inquest isn’t a normal thing for a family to go through. Without the help and support we’ve had we don’t think we would have got the answers we wanted.
“We remain devastated that Olly’s not here to be causing mischief with Austin and his big sister Penny. We will never stop loving him and he’ll always be part of our family.”
The coroner concluded that Olly died of natural causes.
We remain devastated that Olly’s not here to be causing mischief with Austin and his big sister Penny. Georgie and Will Yerbury