Lynsey McGrath

In memory of our beautiful baby boy Kayden

Fundraising for VASA PRAEVIA raising awareness
£425
raised
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In memory of Kayden Patrick John Mcgrath
VASA PRAEVIA raising awareness

Verified by JustGiving

RCN 1109893

Story

Thank you so so much everyone for all your very kind donations, it's very much appreciated xx

This page is dedicated to our beautiful baby boy 'Kayden' who we tragically lost due to a horrible condition called Vasa Praevia.

I woke up at 3am on 3rd June 2013, with period like cramps, but just thought I was imagining it because I was only 37 weeks plus 3 days and hadnt even started my maternity leave yet.  They hadnt stopped by 4.30am so I decided I would waken Johnny to let him know, I thought I was in labour or having braxton hicks.

We thought we would go out for a walk to see if they would stop because we didnt think it was contractions.  When we came back in, I went to the loo and had a 'show', so we then knew it was contractions, so phoned the midwife and she advised me to get into the bath and just time the contractions and to call her back when they where alot closer together.  They then started to go away about 11am so we made the trip to the midwifery unit and was told by the midwife that I was only 1cm dilated so we came home and had a curry and I bounced on my ball to see if we could get them started again, which they did about 4.30pm and then my waters broke at 7.30pm so we phoned the midwifery unit again and they advised us to come back in. 

We where getting so excited because we thought it wouldnt be long until we met our baby.

I got straight into the birthing pool, when we arrived at the midwife unit and was managing on the gas and air.  At 1am the midwife confirmed I was 9cm dilated and started to prepare for the delivery.  I then felt as if my waters broke again and looked down and the pool had filled with blood, I called for Johnny to get the midwife quick, she came in and tried to find the heartbeat and couldnt (even though all evening she barely even had to touch my tummy and she found it instantly, and said everytime thats a happy baby, such a strong heartbeat, which the midwifes also always said at my antenatal appointments ) she then got me out of the pool and still couldnt find it, then asked me to lye on the bed and she still couldnt find it and what felt like a life time she then called for an ambulance to transfer me to the hospital.  It took 1 hour 20 minutes to get to the hospital which is only 10 miles away, by the time they got drips etc put into my hands.

When we got there, they weren't even ready for us, Johnny had to ask them what was going on and what was taking so long, when the doctor arrived after what felt like a life time they hadnt even the ultra sound machine set up for him, when the doctor eventually got it set up he thought he seen a slight flicker of Kayden's heart beat so quickly decided to do a forceps delivery.

Kayden was born at 4.13am weighing 6lbs 14ozs but it was too late they couldnt revive him after half an hour of trying. 

Kayden stayed with us all the time we where in the hospital and the midwife on the delivery suite who was so very kind and caring, helped me dress him and wash his hair, she also helped us make precious memories like foot prints and take pictures, we couldnt get a hand print because Kayden had his little fist clenched.  She talked to him and treated him like he was still alive which was so lovely and she took such very good care of me, always checking my pain relief and comforting me, I will never forget her kindness, she went above and beyond her job role.

We where told by the consultant that he died as a result of Vasa Praevia, which they told us was very rare.  When we came home and researched Vasa Praevia we found this is not the case.  It happens to about 1 in 2,500 babys and causes the babys blood vessels to rupture in the womb during labour causing rapid faetal haemorrhage, to an otherwise healthy baby.  The condition is detectable and can be managed and Kayden would be here today if it had of been picked up at the 20 week scan, with the use of a colour dopler. 

Painless bleeding is a risk factor of Vasa Praevia which I had at christmas time but it wasn't investigated because I had no pain along with the bleeding and was told every thing looked fine.  This is because hospitals do not monitor for this condition meaning healthy babies like Kayden are dying for no reason each year. 

The hardest thing we have ever had to do was leave the hospital without our precious baby, and it's true what they say, your arms really do ache without your baby.

We brought Kayden home the day before his funeral, which was very difficult because we knew it would be very hard to let him go, that evening consisted of lots of cuddles, taking pictures and introducing him to Nikka and Hachi (our dogs), we wanted them to know why we where so upset, to know it was nothing they had done wrong.  When we let them see kayden in the Moses basket they just looked at him and gave him a little lick on his cheek, later that night while Kayden was lying on our bed Hachi went up to him again and licked him on the face, he then nudged him trying to waken him when this didn't work he tried to push the duvet up to cover Kayden because he could feel how cold he was, this absolutely broke mine and Johnny's heart.  They knew Kayden was part of our family and where trying to take care of him.

The day of the funeral came round so quickly, even though we had stayed awake all night with Kayden inbetween us in bed, just looking at him, and touching his little soft hands and cute little button nose, trying to make as many memories as we could because after the funeral  thats all we will have left.  I cuddled him constantly the morning of the funeral not wanting to let him go, I came downstairs with him in my arms as the funeral director had arrived and it was time to put him into his tiny little coffin, I couldn't do it, Johnny took him and put him in.  My heart broke into a million pieces as I looked at my beautiful husband carrying our precious baby boy to his final resting place.

By kindly giving a donation(however small) or just sharing my page will help raise awareness of this horrible condition and help save little lives so no other family have to go through what we have been through.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving Page.

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Thank you for reading our story, Lynsey and Johnny xxx

 

 

 

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About the charity

VASA PRAEVIA raising awareness

Verified by JustGiving

RCN 1109893
OUR AIMS & OBJECTIVES To raise awareness about vasa praevia. To bring about the introduction of clinical protocols in the UK for the routine diagnosis and treatment of vasa praevia. To support and assist those who have experienced or those who are experiencing vasa praevia.

Donation summary

Total raised
£425.00
+ £87.50 Gift Aid
Online donations
£425.00
Offline donations
£0.00

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