PARENTS’ STRUGGLE TO SEE TINY BABY IN FIGHT FOR LIFE
Lockdown means separate visits and sleeping in car:
THE parents of a baby born weighing less than a bag of sugar are unable to see their poorly daughter together due to coronavirus restrictions.
Lucy McCartney and Aaron Thomas’ little girl, Lili was born 26 weeks early on April 25 weighing just 1lb 14oz.
She has been fighting for her life ever since, having already been treated in three different hospitals in just four weeks, but her mum and dad are unable to see her at the same time amid the Covid-19 crisis.
The 32-year-olds from Ty Croes, Anglesey, have even had to sleep outside in their cars while Lili underwent surgery at Alder Hey.
It comes after Lucy started getting stomach pains half way through her pregnancy and drove herself to Ysbyty Gwynedd where it was discovered there were complications.
Lili had to be delivered by emergency caesarean but Aaron, who works as a theatre porter at Ysbyty Gwynedd, wasn’t allowed to be there.
Lucy suffered significant blood loss and had to remain at the Bangor hospital while her baby was rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd – both needed blood transfusions.
When Lucy was well enough, she was moved to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd a few days later and was given a parent room to allow her to be at her daughter’s side alone.
But two weeks ago, the infant was rushed to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital for surgery to have a medication line put in.
Lucy and Aaron had to sleep outside in the car while medics operated on their daughter.
Lili has since been transferred back to Glan Clwyd where she continues to fight for her life on a ventilator but thankfully, she has been showing signs of improvement.
Meanwhile family members have helped set up a crowdfunding page to offer the couple, who are both NHS workers, financial peace of mind throughout their ordeal with Aaron having to travel to the hospital every day.
They can only be with Lili one at a time.
Aaron’s sister, Rebecca Leese, said: “Due to Covid-19, Lucy’s other children Owain, 10 and Lois, three, have been unable to have contact with their mother or Lili which on top of everything is also heart breaking for them all.
“Lucy and Aaron both work for the NHS and Lucy’s first maternity leave payment was £164 which works out just over £40 a week.
“At this time, Lucy’s every waking minute is focused on being with Lili which does not leave the head space to navigate any additional financial support that may be available to her.
“We as a family felt that setting up this page could be a way to show our support at a time of emotional and financial hardship.”
The crowdfunding page, which has already raised more than £3,500, aims to cover the cost of hospital travel and food.
The page states: “Lucy and Aaron have huge gratitude for all the key workers at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital for their outstanding expertise, care and warmth provided to them all as a family over the past four weeks.
“If you are able to make a small donation, this would be hugely appreciated by us as a family.
“We thank you so much in advance, even just for reading our story. We will be organising a fund raiser in due course for Glan Clwyd’s neonatal intensive care unit to pay this kindness forward.”
To make a donation, go to: https://www.gofundme.com.