Fionn
Maria's baby Fionn from Letterkenny, Co Donegal, was born at 29 weeks plus 5 and weighing just 3lbs and 3oz. Fionn needed 18 weeks of care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at The National Maternity Hospital. Fionn’s mum Maria says:
“The first twenty-four hours were critical for him, but the wee champion kept on fighting. He was on different machines, and it was so hard to watch but we were just so glad that he was there. Nobody ever talks about the things that can go wrong and that pregnancy isn’t textbook, and sometimes it doesn’t go how it goes on TV.
I don’t know where to start. All I can tell you is that I am beyond happy to be able to lift Fionn up into my arms and squeeze him tight every single day. That I can snuggle into his hair and feel his hands curled around my fingers before he goes to sleep is a gift that I thought I might never have.
My baby didn’t ask to come into the world early, but he’s doing everything he can to figure it out from here.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping to give my wee warrior a fighting chance.”
Watch Fionn’s progress in the NICU below.