A heartbroken mum whose baby died at just nine months old said she "will always be the brightest star in our sky."
Pearl-Nora Jacqueline Camilla Cummings died at Arrowe Park Hospital on March 3 last year, after becoming "floppy and lifeless" following her usual feed. At an inquest into her death on Wednesday, June 22, parents Camilla Adamson and Jon-Luc Cummings, from West Kirby, said they felt they were not being taken seriously with their concerns.
In a heartfelt statement after the inquest, mum Camilla paid tribute to her "gorgeous daughter" as she thanked the family's legal representatives and the coroner. Posting on the ECHO's Facebook page, she wrote: "It was a very emotional heart wrenching day but our baby has had the investigation into her death properly looked into and we are trying to work on the mental health of pearls' sisters; and working long and hard hours to ensure they get the special treatment they deserve with the help of Claire House councillors for ourselves."
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Camilla said Claire House has been an "amazing resource and last resting place" following her daughter's death, adding "can’t thank the legal representatives enough or the coroners team who took our concerns seriously…our gorgeous daughter will always be the brightest star in our sky."
Dozens of tributes have also been shared on social media from other family members and ECHO readers.
Pearl's dad Jon Cummings said: "Our gorgeous daughter was taken far too soon and no amount of time will ever make it any easier when we know we could have still had a full life with her. Our Pearl will know her mummy and daddy did everything they could to stop this happening to anymore children.
"We are motivated by you every single day our gorgeous baby girl, we love you and miss you more than words can describe and we’ll never give up on fighting for you. You will always be our little Angel and we know you’ll be watching over us all."
Kim Cummings said: "Miss you forever baby girl our lives will never be the same love your broken hearted auntie sleep tight princess."
Thea Holden said: "Tore our family apart. So proud of you Camilla Adamson and Jon getting justice for Pearl."
Donna Hughes said: "This is so sad and shouldn’t have happened so sorry for your baby she deserved better and so sorry for your loss."
Joan Mitchell said: "RIP Beautiful Angel xxxx."
Katie Culbertson said: "Nothing will bring your little girl back but knowing you did everything you could will give you peace of mind and I hope you all get the help you need to grieve for her properly bless you all 'Safe in the arms of Jesus'."
Baby Pearl was born prematurely at 28-weeks in Birkenhead and suffered complications, including necrotising enterocolitis which required surgery. After further concerns in August 2020 of a swollen abdomen, tests revealed "nothing of concern" and she was again transferred back to Arrowe Park Hospital and discharged home.
The inquest yesterday (June 22) heard that Pearl's family believe their concerns were not taken seriously and felt like "hypochondriacs" before her death.
Area Coroner Ms Anita Bhardwaj said it was "unclear when the internal hernia developed" and whether the defect was there from birth. She added it was "more likely than not" the defect occurred post August 2020 surgery so "caused by that surgery."
She went on to say it likely "started small and then developed with bowel movement" and that the hernia itself "could not be aged". Ms Bhardwaj, who described Pearl as a "beautiful girl", told the court even if specialist advice was sought by Arrowe Park hospital on February 21, with presentation it still would've resulted in a decision to discharge baby Pearl.
She said the injury to the bowel is likely to have occurred on March 3 and would not have been present on February 21. She added: "I find that the care and treatment afforded to baby Pearl at Alder Hey hospital as well as Arrowe Park throughout was reasonable and appropriate and no stage was it suggested of the fact there was an internal hernia.
"For that reason I do find this was an inadvertent complication of a necessary medical procedure and conclude baby Pearl died as a result of misadventure."
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