Mum of baby born at 28 weeks raises funds for neo-natal unit

HAIRDRESSER Edel Kavanagh is all to familiar with the fantastic job done by the nurses and doctors in the NICU at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.

He ‘miracle son’ Patrick was born at just 28 weeks weighing 2lbs 7oz and spent eight weeks in the NICU.

Patrick is the fifth generation Patrick Dunne in his family and is named after his daddy Patrick Snr.

‘Patrick is my little miracle baby. He tried to come at 24 weeks but the hospital managed to stop the labour. I was on bed rest and had to get injections once a week. They told me if he got to 28 weeks he’d have a 90% chance of survival and he came on the day I was 28 weeks,’ said Edel, from Rath View in Termonfeckin.

He was born on May 2nd even though he wasn’t due until July 25th. He’s perfect inside and out, I’m so blessed. The nurses in the NICU are just amazing, I can’t even explain how good they were.

Patrick was Edel’s second premature baby as her daughter Mia was born at 33 weeks.

‘I really wanted to hold the fundraiser because both of my children were premature and in special care and I wanted to show my appreciation,’ said Edel who raised €1,000 for the unit.

‘ They literally had my kids’ lives in their hands for the first few weeks of their lives. A bouquet of flowers or box of chocs just wouldn’t have cutcut it.’

She raised the money by raffling a hamper of hair care products worth €170 at her salon, The Secret Hair by Edel Kavanagh in Termonfeckin, and by donating 15% of the cost of every customer who got their colour done during July.

A total of €850 was raised in the salon and the kids granny, Eileen Dunne donated the other €150 to bring it up to €1,000.