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When she was 20 weeks pregnant, Cally-Ann Ahearne was told a number of abnormalities were found with her unborn baby son. Four weeks later, the news every mum-to-be dreads was delivered by doctors - he would stand no chance of survival.
But rather than accepting that she would deliver a stillborn, Cally fought to get him out while his heart was still beating - and she gave birth to him 16 weeks early on Saturday, August 13 weighing a tiny 1lb 7oz. Just 90 minutes after Junior Jack Ahearne was brought into the world he passed away in his mum's arms.
Just days on from the horrific ordeal, Cally has praised staff at The Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran for allowing her to make precious memories with her son in the short time they had together. She was also able to make use of a special refrigerated cot, called a 'cuddle cot', that allowed her to spend more time with her deceased child and find a profound sense of closure.
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"They wanted to let the baby die inside me as it was the safest option for both of us. But they listened to my side of the story and how strongly I felt and they were absolutely marvellous. They are worth their weight in gold," she said.
At Cally's 20-week scan, under Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, it was discovered that Junior had fluid on his brain, so their care was transferred to the foetal medicine unit at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. An amniocentesis, a medical procedure to check chromosome abnormalities, was also carried out but the results came back negative.
However, at another scan at 24 weeks she was told the fluid had moved to his lungs and that he could not be saved. "My world came crashing down. I didn't really know what to say. I'd kind of prepared myself at 20 weeks because of the things they'd found, but the negative tests gave me a little glimmer of hope."
Due to the condition hydrops, which caused large amounts of fluid to build up in the baby's tissues and organs, doctors said Junior would be delivered stillborn. However Cally, 30, who suffers with anxiety, said she "fought hard" for Junior to be delivered while he was still alive.
As she had placenta previa, where the placenta lies very low in the uterus and covers the opening to the cervix, there was a risk a c-section would lead to Cally suffering significant bleeding. Cally, from from Brynmawr, Blaenau Gwent, added: "My choice was to get that baby out so I could spend some precious moments with him before he passed away. There were a number of meetings at The Grange as they'd never done an operation like that before with the baby being so premature, with my placenta previa and all his abnormalities - but I understood the risks."
"For my mental health I knew I needed to do this. I wanted that time with him while he was still alive."
Following a final scan, which showed that his heart was still beating despite fluid also reaching the organ, Junior was born at The Grange University Hospital on August 13. Cally said neonatal staff did as much as they could to keep him alive, but he was too premature and wasn't well enough.
"He was put on my chest, and while they said he wouldn't last long he was on me for one hour and 36 minutes before he passed away. I was so grateful that I was able to do that. He just looked like a small baby - he had every feature you'd expect. Everything was formed. He was perfect."
While Cally was recovering from the operation, she said the 'cuddle cot', which preserves the baby for as long as possible, allowed her to be with Junior for much longer than she anticipated. "He was in the cot next to me, he still had his colour, his skin was so soft. Without that I don't think I would have been able to cope," she added.
"It also allowed my family to come and see him and bond with him. The nurses also got him dressed, took footprints for me, and I was in a lovely room away from other newborn babies crying. I cannot fault [the hospital staff] from start to finish."
Friend Abbie Lyons set up a GoFundMe page on Cally's behalf in a bid to raise money for the hospital to buy another 'cuddle cot'. To donate please go here.
"It's really touched my heart how much has been raised already. Complete strangers have been donating," added Cally, who also has a three-year daughter called Lainee. "I'm burying Junior on September 5 and the only thing that's keeping me going is trying to raise money for this cot so I can help other families in the same situation as me."
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