Mum: My 2 boys in intensive care... at same time
TOT BORN EARLY – THEN BILLIE, 11, HIT BY LORRY
BATTLER: Little Connor fights for his life in intensive care
A MUM’S young son was run over by a lorry and put in a coma just 48 hours after she gave birth to his critically ill brother.
Emma Cooper, 36, had two children fighting for their lives in hospitals over 70 miles apart.
Billie, 11, who was living with his dad in Coventry at the time, had been riding his bike to school when he was hit by a lorry.
He was airlifted to the Birmingham Children’s Hospital and put in a coma for three weeks.
Mum Emma had given birth to brother Connor in Gloucester two days before and the tot was also fighting for his life. He had been born suffering from Meconium Aspiration Syndrome which causes respiratory problems and Emma had to have an emergency caesarean. The mum-offive, of Cheltenham, Glos, said: “It has been the worst time of my life.
“The stress has been unreal – having two kids who are both so ill at the same time, especially with them so far apart. “Emotionally it has taken its toll.”
Emma’s waters broke a day early and doctors had to perform the C-section as Connor’s heart rate was dangerously low.
After the delivery he was whisked away to ICU and doctors feared he might not survive. Emma, who is married to Will Pargeter, 37, said: “It was so traumatic. “Connor had wires all over him and looked so tiny and sick.”
But Emma’s ordeal was far from over as just 48 hours later in February this year Billie was run over.
Emma said: “I was in the hospital bed, sick with worry about Connor, when I got the call.
“I dropped the phone and screamed. I was completely hysterical.” Billie’s injuries included a shattered pelvis, a bleed on the brain, a busted leg and damage to his internal organs. He underwent three major operations, multiple skin grafts and months of physiotherapy,
Against all odds, both the brothers managed to pull through, with Connor going home in April and Billie finally leaving hospital in June.
Emma said: “Thankfully they’re both making amazing recoveries, but I really thought I might lose them both at one point.
“I’m just so grateful they both pulled through. They are my little heroes. I’m so proud of them.”