Heartbroken mum says staff savedher life giving their all for Abbie

Losing four pints of blood during the problematic birth of daughter, Abbie Rose, Currynierin woman, Aisling Martin, has heaped praise on those who cared for her. Indeed, Every mother’s nightmare unfolded for Aisling when her placenta broke away and she had to be rushed to Altnagelvin to undergo an emergency Caesarean Section as medical staff tried to save the lives of both mother and baby.

But despite her tremendous loss having lost in the battle to save her daughter, Aisling opted to speak out in praise of the nursing and medical staff at Altnagelvin, who, she said, provided and are continuing to provide, exemplary care during the darkest days of her life.

“My placenta broke away and caused internal bleeding and she (Abbie Rose) swallowed the blood,” explained Aisling.

“By the time I reached the hospital and had her delivered by crash section (emergency C-Section), I had to be resuscitated and she had to be resuscitated,” she added.

“When I arrived in the room there were 15 or 16 people and they were all roaring and squealing.

“I lost four units of blood. “They were pumping blood into me, I had to get a transfusion and it was touch and go with me. So they were fighting for my life and the life of my daughter at the same time.

“I’d lost so much blood. All I could see was white. I was on my way out. I knew I was on my way out,” she claimed.

Tragically, and despite the heroic efforts of staff at Altnagelvin, nothing could be done for baby Abbie, who also suffered a starvation of oxygen to the brain.

Abbie Rose passed away on September 7 and was laid to rest in St Mary’s Cemetery, Ardmore, the following day.

Aisling said the doctors looking after Abbie Rose were unbelievably professional and did all they could for her.

“She was starved of oxygen to the brain for seven and a half minutes and they brought her back and took her to the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit. They did everything they possibly could for her.

“I remember clearly a doctor who spent from 12 noon on Saturday morning to half past two the following morning with Abbie Rose.

“And that doctor was back with us again at 9 o’clock the next morning. That doctor worked with her for a full 14 or 15 hours,” she said.

Aisling said she felt it was important that she told her story to give credit to the local hospital staff who are often forced to read demoralisingly negative stories in relation to the National Health Service.

“I think, you know what, maybe it’s time to give them a bit of good Press.

“The way the staff treated us, the staff were so good. The effort they put in to make me feel comfortable was very much appreciated.

“They were so good to me and they continue to be so good to me.”

“Since the moment I arrived in Altnagelvin Hospital, I mean, I was nearly dead, I lost four units of blood.

“I was at death’s door and within two minutes they had Abbie Rose delivered.

“From the minute I entered the hospital to the minute I took that wain out of the hospital, the care I received was unbelievable.

“From the treatment I got in the Intensive Care Unit to the very Christening, the way it was carried out; the way they supplied the gowns, everything that was needed, they supplied it.

“When visitors were coming in, even with tea and toast for visitors, they couldn’t have been any better the way they treated us.

“From the ante-natal, to the labour ward, to the neo-natal intensive care ward, I’ve received nothing but the best of care.”

Aisling also said she wanted to thank those who rallied around the family when baby Abbie Rose was being waked in Currynierin earlier this month. She reserved special thanks for the staff and proprietors of the Currynierin shops who were ‘unbelievably supportive’ as hundreds of mourners paid their respects at Aisling’s home.

The Western Trust offers a range of contacts for people in need of Bereavement Care Information and Support. For a comprehensive list of support services visit the following link: http://www.westerntrust.hscni.net/services/1671.htm