Hi my name is Charlene and myself, my husband David and our four kids Chloe, Eoin, Nathan and Ethan are from lovely Leitirm.

22weeks pregnant with our fourth baby I had to have emergency surgery to remove a burst appendix, and another two weeks later at 24weeks pregnant I developed sepsis and went into early labour. I was rushed to National Maternity Hospital Holles Street in an ambulance where the next day we had no choice but to deliver Ethan in an effort to save both of our lives. The hospital told us it be long road and at 24 weeks were unsure of the medical needs Ethan would face.

Ethan was born at 24weeks and 5days via emergency C-section. He was transferred to the highest level of care in NICU where he spent the next 10weeks. I was trying to recover from both the c-section and the appendix surgery two weeks previously and the sepsis I developed as a result, but for the next ten weeks I travelled up and down to Dublin getting lifts with wonderful friends and family.

In this time I wanted to be with our kids in Leitirm but I also wanted to be with our new born baby in Dublin. The first few weeks of having a new born are so tough physically and mentally without having to be separated from the ones you love. It was the hardest thing. After 10 long weeks in Dublin we were discharged to Sligo where he spent another 5 weeks.

Ethan was provided with the very best of care, the nurses doctors and all the staff working in NMH are fantastic and I couldn't thank them enough. As hard as it was anytime we had to leave Ethan we knew he was getting the best of care. We also had an angel camera where we could watch him on our phones. It is the little touches and the kindness even though the staff were so busy they always had or made time to talk to you or reassure us.

The day they told us we could bring him home, was the day we had been waiting for 100days to hear. He came home to three loving siblings just waiting to hold him. 2 weeks after he came home he got rhinovirus and ended back in hospital in the intensive care ward in Temple Street where he spent 5days and thankfully made a quick recovery.

2 years later Ethan is our miracle baby and despite the odds he is doing great and we are so blessed to have him. He brings joy and love to some many people.

We wanted to take this time to thank NMH Holles Street, family, friends, neighbours and the kids school who played a huge part in getting us through one of the toughest times we faced. We would like to raise some funds as a token of gratitude for everything they did for our family.

Please give what you can to NMH.

Thank you

The Donnellys

Having a baby is one of the most important events in life and providing high quality neonatal and maternal care is at the heart of The National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street.

The NMH Foundation raises vital funds for The National Maternity Hospital, with a focus on advancing maternal and neonatal health, through funding research, innovation and excellence in care. These advances through research and practice will reduce risks for mothers and babies and will save lives.