Miracle Mum, Claire remembers the moment doctors placed her tiny baby in an induced coma not long after birth. She shares the story of Willow's strength and determination.

"Willow was born at 28 weeks on 17 November 2016 - which is conveniently World Prematurity Day. I was admitted into hospital with severe Pre-Eclampsia and HELLP syndrome. I quickly began to deteriorate on admission and Willow was born via emergency caesarean weighing 860grams. She was born breathing but needed a little assistance with Bipap.

Her first six weeks in NICU and Special Care were a constant one-step-forward, two-steps-back, with doctors constantly monitoring for NEC (necrotising enterocolitis). On 31 December their suspicions were confirmed. With Willow deteriorating rapidly, they made the decision to put her in an induced coma and intubate immediately.

The first two days she was treated for sepsis with triple antibiotics while we waited for results. The surgeons decided to delay surgery and see how she reacted to the antibiotics. On day three she had a failed extubation and showed no improvement with the antibiotics, and things were looking pretty grim. On day five she awoke and was breathing completely on her own with her daily blood results showing completely fine. Willow was discharged three weeks later a few days shy of her due date.

Apart from suffering from chronic lung disease Willow is an incredibly intelligent healthy little girl who has an extremely feisty personality."   

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