New Guardian Angels unit helps treat sick baby

8:35am Thursday 20th November 2008

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THIS tiny baby battled back from the brink of death and is living proof that every penny donated to The Press’s Guardian Angels Appeal was worth it.

Before the new high-dependency children’s unit at York Hospital was opened, Max Toomey would have faced a distressing transfer to another hospital in a city like Leeds or Sheffield.

But when he fell ill with acute bronchiolitis two weeks ago, Max was able to receive all the treatment he needed in York – thanks to the new CPAP breathing machine bought with funds from the Guardian Angels appeal.

The 16-week-old baby, who arrived home from hospital yesterday, was the first patient on York Hospital’s children’s ward to benefit from this life-saving piece of equipment.

Max’s mum, Claire Toomey, said: “We are just so grateful that the new high-dependency unit was there and Max was able to stay in York.

“We would like to say thank you to everyone who raised the money and made this unit possible because it made such a difference for us.”

Claire and her husband, Dean, who live in Wheldrake, near York, know better than anyone how stressful it would have been if their son was transferred to another hospital.

Max was born nine weeks premature, weighing only 3lbs 3oz, and spent four weeks in York Hospital’s special care baby unit before they could take him home.

Three weeks later, he contracted a life-threatening virus and was taken by ambulance to Sheffield Hospital, where he was put on a ventilator in intensive care.

Claire, 32, said: “He went pale and limp and was really cold. His body temperature dropped to 29 degrees and we were terrified.

“In the intensive care room in Sheffield, I asked if my son was going to die and they said we can’t answer that question because his body had started to shut down. It was a very frightening experience and I just stood there in absolute shock.

“Because he was in Sheffield, it made things even more stressful for us because we also have a three-year-old son.

“Trying to juggle childcare with having a critically ill baby is not easy.”

Fortunately, Max responded to treatment and was able to return home after about three weeks – before falling ill again with bronchiolitis.

Claire, who works as a supply chain manager for a beauty company, said: “When Max became ill again with bronchiolitis, we were so glad that he was able to stay in York.

“The new high-dependency rooms are great. While Max was on the CPAP machine, there was a nurse with him the whole time.

“It really is money well spent.”

Dr Robin Ball, a consultant paediatrician at York Hospital, gave his heartfelt thanks to readers of The Press for making the new £300,000 high-dependency unit possible.

He said: “We’ve now treated 51 patients in the new unit, but Max is the first patient who has avoided a transfer to another hospital because of the new facilities we now have available.”