During a routine growth scan at 24 weeks it was flagged up that our unborn baby girl was measuring small for the number of weeks. At 38 weeks we made the decision to have a cesarean delivery as there was a possible risk that my placenta wasn’t functioning properly, or something was wrong with her development.

Ivy was born a tiny 5lb13, not my usual 8-9lb baby boy. She quickly developed extreme jaundice & was placed under a therapy lamp to flush out her system and took 2 days to get under control.

When having her routine post natal tests at 2 days old it was picked up that Ivy‘s eye’s weren’t responding with the red light reflex when the torch was flashed in her eyes. Ivy had cataracts that fully covered both lenses in her eyes. This meant that she would never be able to see without surgical intervention. 

She was diagnosed with Bilateral Congenital Cataracts at Alder Hay at just 8 days old and would need to have her lenses removed and rely on contact lenses and/ or glasses to develop her eyesight and for the rest of her life.

At 7 weeks old we travelled to Alder Hay for Ivy’s surgery at the beginning of a worldwide pandemic. This had to be one of the most horrific times for us as a family. Surgery went amazing well and her consultants were more than pleased with the operation. 

She is a little warrior and has recovered so well, with only a small spike in pressure when healing. Keeping her eye pressure in the normal range will be a lifelong battle for Ivy and we will be regular attendees at Alder Hay to keep her eyesight safe.

Ross & I wanted to give something back, as a thank you for saving her eyesight. She see’s us and smiles and can see the glorious world around her and we can’t thank them enough for giving our baby girl the gift of sight. Fortunately for her, she won’t remember the traumas that she’s been through for them acting so quickly.

We have no idea why has this happened to our gorgeous girl, there is no history on either side of the condition, but with Ivy’s low birthweight and jaundice it could be that there is an underlying genetic or metabolic condition.  She having numerous blood tests to get to the bottom of it and hopefully the cataracts is the only thing we have to deal with.

She’s fit and healthy, developing well and catching up with her weight. Both Nobles and Alder Hay are keeping a close eye on her to make sure she’s  progressing as she should while doing all they can to get to the bottom of her condition.

We’ve been so grateful for all of the support we’ve received from friends and family. We couldn’t have gotten through any of this without you. If you could pass on a bit of lose change and sponsor us for the Isle of Man Half Marathon on 9th August we would most appreciate you helping us pay it forward.

The McCullochs