Rachel McAlpine
Baby Alexandra's Fundraising Page
Fundraising for Leeds Hospitals Charity
Story
Our beautiful daughter Alexandra Fowkes McLennan (all 9lbs 15oz of her!) was born via emergency c-section in the early hours of Tuesday 29th September. Unfortunately, she was born without a heartbeat and oxygen and it took 18 minutes to get her going. On Wednesday afternoon we had to have the chat with the consultant regarding her care. The damage sustained by the lack of a heartbeat and oxygen was catastrophic and continuing that level of intensive care would result in her being attached to machines permanently. The level of brain damage meant that it would be extremely unlikely that she would ever to able to see, speak, hear even taste or be able to communicate with us on any level. We made the difficult decision not to continue in her intensive care as we felt it wasn't fair to subject her to an existence rather than a life.
She passed away peacefully in mine and Andrew's arms surrounded by family on Wednesday evening. One tiny positive is that we've consented for Alexandra to donate her heart valves so hopefully after the necessary quarantine period she will save the life of another child.
The team at Leeds General, in the Neonatal intensive care unit were amazing. The support they gave was wonderful and they are a credit to the NHS. We want to raise money to help buy equipment and supplies for the unit so they can continue to provide this level of wonderful care.
Thank you in advance for your kind donation and continued support,
Claire and Andrew McLennan
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