Eimear's Story
At just 10-days-old Eimear underwent emergency life-saving surgery
At 10-days old, Eimear was diagnosed with a coarctation of the Aorta (a type of narrowing) and a 10mm VSD in her heart. She had been rushed from the GP’s surgery by ambulance, within hours of being taken to CHI at Crumlin, Eimear was on life-support and preparations were made for her to undergo emergency life-saving surgery.
“The night that Eimear was diagnosed was the worst time in my life. When the doctors came to take her to surgery, I just kept holding her, I was completely unprepared for it. Her heart was very weak at that stage, but Professor Mark Redmond and his team got her through it. She remained on life-support for the next four days and underwent another surgery to place a band on her pulmonary artery.
During those first few days in the hospital, I couldn’t hold Eimear or stay with her at night. This was difficult but I was completely reassured by the amazing NICU nursing team, they treated Eimear with such kindness and respect. When I was leaving at night, I always knew the name of the nurse who would be with Eimear, I knew that she was in safe hands.
We were allowed to take Eimear home on New Year’s Day. She would require open heart surgery in the coming months, but she needed to reach 6kgs in weight before they could do this surgery. At this stage Eimear was tube fed, she was on a lot of medication and needed constant monitoring. We had numerous trips into CHI at Crumlin during those months. I was really well supported by the hospital during this time, I was able to call the Clinical Nurse Specialist whenever I had a question or was concerned about something, they always got back to me, and I never felt that I was on my own.
Eimear had her open-heart surgery in June 2010. Again, Professor Mark Redmond saved her life. When they were operating on her heart they discovered a warren of holes.
We took her home the end of June. Eimear thrived for a little while but then started vomiting and losing weight again. After multiple stays in Crumlin and investigation procedures, Professor McMahon discovered another hole in the bottom of her heart, they were able to do a procedure to close this over.
When Eimear got back to the ward, she cried a “hungry” cry for the first time ever. Myself and her Dad cried with relief, we just knew she was fixed! She was tube fed for another month and then we were able to wean her off it. For her first birthday she was able to eat birthday cake!
It was a horrendous year; however, Eimear and her sister Róisín were such pleasant babies that their smiles got us through it. The care Eimear got and continues to receive in CHI at Crumlin was phenomenal. From Professor McMahon, Professor Mark Redmond, the CNS, the Dietician, the Psychology team, all the ICU and cardiac nurses that looked after her, every single one of them played a huge part in saving her life and getting our entire family through the year. I will never be able to thank them enough.
Eimear is now 12 and lives a perfectly normal and healthy life. She loves running, dancing, baking and art. She’s a great talker and along with her brother Luke and sister Róisín, she enjoys life to the full.
Eimear’s Dad and I will be eternally grateful to CHI at Crumlin hospital.” Eimear’s Mum, Helen
