Miracle premmie blooming
YOUNG mother Tahleha Baptie and her partner, David O'Connell, count their blessings every day when they admire their baby Skylah.
The alert and rosy-cheeked little girl living and growing with them today was born premature and pallid on April 2 after losing massive amounts of blood through a tear behind the placenta.
Tahleha still shudders when she thinks back and reflects on how close the couple came to losing their newborn.
"She was born with severe foetal-maternal haemorrhaging," Tahleha said.
"There was a big tear in the placenta, but it did not show up on the scans.
"When she was born she had only 50% of her blood in her system and was only the second baby in (Hervey Bay) hospital to be given a blood transfusion like that."
Skylah was rushed into intensive care where she stayed for five days, part of that time in a humidi crib as she struggled to breathe.
Medical staff told Tahleha, once the crisis was over, that only one in 5000 babies suffered from Skylah's condition, and the mortality rate was 37%.
"They were so blown away at the hospital by how well Skylah has recovered," Tahleha said.
"She has all her colour back and is eating well and putting on weight.
"We couldn't be happier."
Tahleha, who has just finished Year 12 and a hospitality and tourism course through TAFE, said she planned to stay at home to care for Skylah for the foreseeable future.
