A rare disease caused a terrifying fit in a Somerset baby just hours after birth.
Jack and Siobhan Cooper, of Taunton, gave birth to a baby girl, Louella, during the pandemic.
However, just hours after birth, she suffered a severe brain hemorrhage and was rushed to intensive care in Bristol.
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She had two brain surgeries to control the rare disease – called hydrocephalus – where doctors were able to save her life.
However, following the surgeries, she was left with cerebral palsy, vision loss and ongoing seizures.
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Jack said: “When Louella was in the hospital, we didn’t want to leave her by his side for a second. She was so poor and small and vulnerable.
“It’s hard to explain. It’s numbing and you don’t know how to feel. You have a mixture of anger, worry, nervousness about whether or not she would live. It’s a lot of emotions. .
“We don’t know any different as this is our first child, but she needs a lot more support and specialists than a normal baby. It’s been a massive adjustment, for our personal life, it’s huge because she is going to need constant support for the rest of his life.
“We have a specialist who works with us from home who helps develop Louella, but our main goal is for her to be happy.”
Throughout the terrifying ordeal, in the midst of the pandemic when all local hotels were closed, the Coopers were given fully equipped accommodation by Cots for Tots, just thirty seconds from Louella’s bedside.
Cots for Tots is a special baby care charity for St Michael’s Hospital in Bristol and raises funds to save and transform lives at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Jack said how difficult it was to put into words the impact charity had on him and Siobhan while Louella was being treated.
As a result of this he decided to start an epic fundraiser with the aim of raising £ 100,000 for the charity and has already passed the £ 20,000 mark.
Jack plans to cycle more than 1,500 miles from his Cooper Associates office in Taunton, Portugal through the French Pyrenees in August.
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He will start his huge challenge on August 16, accompanied by his brother Lee and has been so moved by the support they have already received.
Jack said: “I had the idea in the early years. When I left the association I told them that I would support them for the rest of my life and my wife and I are committed to doing that. .
“It’s about six months of training, it’s very complete, especially depending on the work. The worst part is that Portugal are currently on the orange list.
“I find it difficult to effectively express the impact Cots for Tots and the stay at Cots for Tots House have had on us.
“Not only were we able to stay close to our little girl when we needed it, but the accommodation provided was fully equipped so that we could live from day to day, and in the brief moments we left her we were staying at alongside other parents in a similar situation, who might sympathize with our heartache.
“Cots for Tots is a lifeline for parents of very young children, and I am absolutely determined to reach my goal of £ 100,000 for this incredible charity.”
Louella Cooper was born in the midst of a pandemic
Helen Haskell, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Cots for Tots, added: “The whole philosophy of Cots for Tots House is to help reduce the worry of parents who live further away from the hospital. already have difficulty managing. Jack’s £ 100,000 goal is incredible and it certainly is an epic challenge.
“We wish him all the luck in the world in his daring challenge, and thank him from the bottom of our hearts for his efforts. “
You can visit the gofundme page and support Jack and Lee by clicking here.
Do you have a story or tip to tell in Taunton, Wellington or West Somerset? Email me at ross.millen@reachplc.com to get in touch
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Source: www.somersetlive.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-06-18 10:21:18
