A mother led a 40-strong group of family and friends who took part in the Loughrea 8K road race last weekend to raise money for neonatal intensive care units in Galway and Dublin where her son spent six months.
Lachlan Keary weighed just 1lb10oz when he arrived into the world four months early on September 18, 2014. It was touch and go whether he would survive, recalls his mom Kiara.
“He wasn’t breathing when he was born and they managed to resuscitate him. Then a month later he had a bowel perforation due to a variety of other things and needed nine shots of adrenaline to pull through.
“At Christmas he was transferred to Galway and then got pneumonia. He was so, so sick, we got him baptised. He was really, really lucky. It’s amazing what they can do.”
Lachlan spent 14 weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Holles Street, Dublin and 10 weeks in Galway. Kiara cannot praise the care they received highly enough.
Staff became like a second family.
“Oh my God, I just think anyone who has had a long experience in hospital will realise how amazing they are. Yes, they’re understaffed, overcrowded but seeing them with your tiny baby, they do everything in their power, not just for Lachlan but all the other babies. They’re just unreal.”
Kiara, a national school teacher in Creagh, Ballinasloe, is on leave from her job to care for Lachlan. He has chronic lung disease due to being on a ventilator for so long. He remains on oxygen at night time. With help from the early intervention team in Loughrea and plenty of physio, Lachlan is managing to sit up and reach key milestones.
Due to his weak lungs, they have to be extremely careful about infection. Dad Tony Keary had just started a plumbing business when Lachlan arrived at 24 weeks.
The couple, who were childhood sweethearts, had only moved back home to Loughrea to start a family two months before from Australia where they had spent two years.
“Talk about a crash, bang, wallop into the world of parenthood. His early arrival is just one of those things they can’t explain. There was no evidence of infection or anything which is good I guess if we decide to have another baby.”
They were lucky enough to be able to stay with a family member in Dublin during Lachlan’s stint in Dublin. When he got pneumonia in Galway, they were able to avail of an en suite parent’s room in the neonatal unit.
“That was a huge help. We only lived a half an hour away but it was too far at that time. To be able to have that is incredible. The whole business of neonatal units is a whole new world. I was totally oblivious to it all but you quickly find out how amazing they are when it matters.”
Last Sunday, 41 family members and friends ran with Kiara and Tony to help raise funds for the two hospitals.
“We have been completely overwhelmed by the support we have received over the last month and we cannot thank everyone for their help and well wishes along the way. We have had support from all over the world. A group of friends in Melbourne also ran an 8k on Sunday to show their support,” she enthused.
“One in ten babies are born premature in Ireland and if we can help just one other family with some support it would be a fantastic achievement.”
The family are very grateful to the Loughrea Athletic Club for allowing them to organise the fundraiser as part of the race. They are hoping to raise around €4,000 to improve equipment in both units.
Donations can be made to 087 782 5324.
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