Limavady woman takes on 5 peaks challenge to give back to hospital that saved godsons life
Hunt Sports Therapy Team will climb the highest five mountain peaks across Northern Ireland in five consecutive days
The Godmother of a four-year-old boy who received lifesaving treatment at Altnagelvin Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is doing her bit to give back.
Hollie Hunt and the Hunt Sports Therapy Team are fundraising by enduring the immense climb of the highest five peaks across Northern Ireland in five consecutive days.
When Hollie’s Godson, Jacob Young, was born in March 2017 he wasn't producing any surfactant, which is needed in the lungs.
Jacob was on a ventilator for two weeks and doctors were worried than unless he started to produce his own, he would not survive.
However, with the help of staff and a particular consultant he was able to pull through.
The difficulties started after Jenny, Jacob's mum, delivered her son by a planned C-section.
After the birth a midwife noticed him making grunting sounds and was unhappy with how he was breathing.
He was then taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and after 24 hours where he had to be ventilated because of his erratic breathing.
While Jacob was ventilated his blood, gasses were unstable.
Jenny said “He was either holding too much oxygen or too much Carbon Monoxide.
“So, we had to keep introducing different antibiotics and things to see if we could get a balance and it was a long hard run and he was on a ventilated for two weeks, which is a long, long time for a full-time baby.”
After several x-rays the Doctors found that the surfactant that babies make on their own was not being produced by Jacob.
Jenny said it was after the discover this a consultant decided to give him a dose of surfactant to see if that would help him along with a blood transfusion for his oxygen platelets.
She added: “There was one Sunday in particular that one of the consultants says that if Jacob was able to make his on surfactant that he wouldn’t survive because you just can’t survive without it, it is needed for the lungs to be able to operate.
“We were obviously heart broken and got Jacob Christened and everything that day so that we knew he would be okay.
“That night one of the other consultants was on duty and she said, ‘I’m just going to try something’ and she rang the Royal again and said to them look ‘I want to give this child another dose of surfactant to see if that helps and the next day he started to improve.
“I owe her everything, I owe her everything "
“All the doctors in the ICU even the ones who had to deliver bad news to us still hold a special place in our hearts because they’re part of Jacob’s journey.
“It was very much highs and lows all-round, but they were there every step of the way and I owe everything to them.”
When Jacob’s Godmother, Hollie, informed her she was going to take on the challenge she was initially overwhelmed.
She said: “It brought back a lot of memories and feelings of how I felt.
“We’ve already actually given back to the neonatal as well, Jacob’s
“Christening gifts were all donations to the unit and now be able to give back to them again is just brilliant.
“They provide the best service to all the children in Northern Ireland that need them and some children for very little and some children need them for a lot, and they are there no matter what.
“I owe her everything, I owe her everything.
“We’ve seen her a couple of times from check ups afterwards and she just knows that she will hold a special place in our hearts forever.”
The last peak that we will be hiking is Sawel which is situated just outside Feeny which will take place on Saturday September 18, 2021.
This hike will be open to anyone who would like to join.
All information regarding fundraising and the event can be requested at : huntsportstherapy@hotmail.com
Donations can be made by clicking here
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