My Story

We are raising money to get the NICU at LRI a second abi cold cot so other family's have the privilege of using one, to spend time with their babies. I was able to use one the night Jacob gained his wings and was so thankful I was able to spend extra time with him. 💙

I sadly lost my baby boy on Wednesday 26th June 2024.

Jacob was 15 weeks early he was born at 24+4 weeks on Friday 12th April 2024 at 4.48am weighing 1lb 6oz.

He came into the world fighting, he had to be ventilated from birth and sadly I was told he had CLD and a large PDA but these were manageable. He was very poorly and it was very difficult journey. He got NEC early on in his life and sadly on 4th May had a spontaneous perforation in is bowel, he had emergency surgery to fix this but they were unable to finish the operation due to concerns of compartment syndrome, he went back into theatre 6 days later so they could finish the surgery. They gave him a temporary stoma to allow his bowel to fully heal. After the first operation his CRP levels dropped and he started to get better. On the 21st May Jacob went back into theatre to get a broviac line fitted as they were unable to get another long line in as his veins were so small and just couldn't handle being poked all the time. Jacob was nil by mouth for 6 weeks and then on 12th June his stoma finally started working! He was able to have EBM again! We thought things were finally moving forward, his lungs were getting stronger thanks to antibiotics and steroids and the countless days he was on muscle relaxers and the oscillating setting on the ventilator. The doctors were planing on extubating him so he could finally breath in his own. His CRP levels were the lowest they've ever been.

Unfortunately on Sunday 23rd June I noticed Jacob's tummy was looking descended again and we wasn't tollorating his feeds. They arranged an abdominal xray and this showed his intestines were very loopy, he was again nil by mouth. The surgeons came around and told me he would need another operation to investigate what was going on. Jacob went for surgery on Wednesday 26th June. Unfortunately they found that his bowels were not great and he has intestinal failure. Sadly he had a cardiac arrest in theatre, fortunately they were able to save him. 
He was rushed back to the ward and I was able to hold him in my arms until he gained his little angel wings.
I couldn't be prouder of my brave cub, he came into the world fighting and fought right until the end. 
We had many happy memories while on NICU as well as bad and have gained many new friends on our journey and are proud to call all of them our new extended family 💙
He spent his whole life on the NICU at LRI. I can't thank the amazing nurses and doctors, that did everything they possibly could to help my cub. He may have only been small but he was mighty and had everyone wrapped around his tiny fingers. 💙 👣