Our sunshine Abbie Mai aid of Crumlin hospital
Donation protected
At 26 weeks pregnant, we found out our daughter had Congenital Cardiac defect and could possibly arrive early and may not survive, it was the most heart breaking news for us to get and then the uncertain wait not knowing what would happen our daughter.
On Friday 3rd Sept 21 in The Rotunda Hospital Dublin which was meant to be a check up turned into an emergency C-Section and the arrival of Abbie Mai Fitzsimons Walsh arriving into this world at 34 weeks at 3.18pm weighing 4lb 13.5oz. She was taken immediately to Neonatal unit where they took great care of her. Saturday morning a discussion with consultant Dr Terry Prendiville confirmed Abbie Mai would have to be transferred to Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin for heart surgery. Late on Saturday night Abbie Mai was transferred by ambulance to Crumlin Hospital to be ready for surgery early Sunday morning. She had balloons inserted to open the valves in her heart - one was severely blocked, the other not as bad. Surgery was long but a huge success.
She recovered well from her heart surgery, but a week later she took a turn. She was diagnosed with under active thyroid and was treated for same. There was lot going on at this time, they thought it was NEC - necrotising enter colitis which they feared would result in half of Abbie Mai's gut being removed. During surgery they realised that in fact it was her appendix that had burst at just one week old.
She came out of surgery and I finally got to hold her on the 12th Sept at 9 days old, her recovery went well where we met the most amazing and caring nurses and doctors. We got great support and advise from Sarah Holland and Alice Laffan. Due to all their hard work and dedication to Abbie Mai after 8 weeks we finally got to bring our precious daughter home for the first time.
Abbie Mai got to meet all her family and friends, she made wonderful memories from sleepovers, to her Auntie's wedding and unfortunately her Nana's funeral. She was home for the most cherished 7 weeks of her life.
Sadly on the 20th of December Abbie Mai took a turn and was rushed back to Crumlin hospital.
Where she was back with her favourite doctors and nurses on the ICU ward.
Spending her first Christmas with her Mammy Aoife and Daddy Richie by her bedside. Although it wasnt where we wanted to spend our first family Christmas, it was magical and a memory we will always cherish. Santa arrived during the night much to Abbie Mai's delight.
On the third week in hospital on the 6th of January, Richie and myself met with her consultant Dr Terry Prendiville, we were given the worst possible news of our lives, following a conference meeting with numerous consultants it was discovered that their was no surgery or medical care available due to Abbie Mai's weight and size, Terry tried everything in his power but unfortunately we were advised she wouldn't make it and we had only 24/36 hours left with our beautiful daughter. At this point all 4 of her valves were leaking.
Abbie Mai got to spend 9 more days with us making even more memories - her baptism, a photo shoot and many many visitors.
Abbie Mai peacefully left this world on the 14th January at 7.25pm with her Mammy and Daddy at her bedside to join the angels.
In aid of this story and in the memory of Abbie Mai, we are organising a fundraiser for the ICU unit and for research into Congenital Cardiac defect in the hope that it might prevent another family from going through what we did.
We would also like to thank all the wonderful staff that took great care of Abbie Mai during her stay's at Our Lady’s Children's Hospital Crumlin.
Abbie Mai will always be Mammy and Daddy’s little sunshine, and hopefully other families through this research.
On Friday 3rd Sept 21 in The Rotunda Hospital Dublin which was meant to be a check up turned into an emergency C-Section and the arrival of Abbie Mai Fitzsimons Walsh arriving into this world at 34 weeks at 3.18pm weighing 4lb 13.5oz. She was taken immediately to Neonatal unit where they took great care of her. Saturday morning a discussion with consultant Dr Terry Prendiville confirmed Abbie Mai would have to be transferred to Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin for heart surgery. Late on Saturday night Abbie Mai was transferred by ambulance to Crumlin Hospital to be ready for surgery early Sunday morning. She had balloons inserted to open the valves in her heart - one was severely blocked, the other not as bad. Surgery was long but a huge success.
She recovered well from her heart surgery, but a week later she took a turn. She was diagnosed with under active thyroid and was treated for same. There was lot going on at this time, they thought it was NEC - necrotising enter colitis which they feared would result in half of Abbie Mai's gut being removed. During surgery they realised that in fact it was her appendix that had burst at just one week old.
She came out of surgery and I finally got to hold her on the 12th Sept at 9 days old, her recovery went well where we met the most amazing and caring nurses and doctors. We got great support and advise from Sarah Holland and Alice Laffan. Due to all their hard work and dedication to Abbie Mai after 8 weeks we finally got to bring our precious daughter home for the first time.
Abbie Mai got to meet all her family and friends, she made wonderful memories from sleepovers, to her Auntie's wedding and unfortunately her Nana's funeral. She was home for the most cherished 7 weeks of her life.
Sadly on the 20th of December Abbie Mai took a turn and was rushed back to Crumlin hospital.
Where she was back with her favourite doctors and nurses on the ICU ward.
Spending her first Christmas with her Mammy Aoife and Daddy Richie by her bedside. Although it wasnt where we wanted to spend our first family Christmas, it was magical and a memory we will always cherish. Santa arrived during the night much to Abbie Mai's delight.
On the third week in hospital on the 6th of January, Richie and myself met with her consultant Dr Terry Prendiville, we were given the worst possible news of our lives, following a conference meeting with numerous consultants it was discovered that their was no surgery or medical care available due to Abbie Mai's weight and size, Terry tried everything in his power but unfortunately we were advised she wouldn't make it and we had only 24/36 hours left with our beautiful daughter. At this point all 4 of her valves were leaking.
Abbie Mai got to spend 9 more days with us making even more memories - her baptism, a photo shoot and many many visitors.
Abbie Mai peacefully left this world on the 14th January at 7.25pm with her Mammy and Daddy at her bedside to join the angels.
In aid of this story and in the memory of Abbie Mai, we are organising a fundraiser for the ICU unit and for research into Congenital Cardiac defect in the hope that it might prevent another family from going through what we did.
We would also like to thank all the wonderful staff that took great care of Abbie Mai during her stay's at Our Lady’s Children's Hospital Crumlin.
Abbie Mai will always be Mammy and Daddy’s little sunshine, and hopefully other families through this research.
Organizer
Jennifer Farrell
Organizer
County Meath, Meath