Mother fundraising for Limerick neonatal unit after daughter spent start of life there
A WOMAN is raising money for staff members of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at University Maternity Hospital Limerick as a way of giving back for all the work they do.
Cara Collins originally from Clare, now residing in Martinstown, gave birth to her daughter, Harper, nine weeks premature.
“We got to see her for a moment before she was whisked away to the neonatal unit,” Cara said.
Harper will be one on October 2, and Cara has set up a GoFundMe page to mark the occasion.
“I couldn’t let her birthday pass without acknowledging them. Given there were Covid restrictions when she was born only the parents were allowed in the neonatal unit so you kind of lean on the nurses as your support because you don’t have anyone else when you’re in there.
“I think for a woman to have a baby and for them to not be with you is very unnatural. You’re putting all your trust into strangers,” she added.
“In the last couple of months now, she’s really after taking off, the doctors are really happy with her,” Cara said.
When Harper was born it was extremely unexpected for Cara.
“I kind of just left work one day and I wasn’t feeling well and then my water broke so it was all very sudden. I was in the hospital from around the Friday to the Sunday, I don’t really remember, I was going in and out of labour.
“They were giving me loads of medications and then they found out I had sepsis so I don’t really have much memory of it. I just remember someone saying ‘how would you feel about having a section?’ I knew she was nine weeks early and I just knew whatever had to happen, had to happen.”
During the section, the hospital also suffered a power cut. “It was just a moment of okay what else?” Cara laughed.
“Harper was only born a minute or so when it happened so I’d say it was her way of showing us that she’s here,” Cara added.
To donate to Cara’s cause, search ‘Harpers 1st Birthday’ on GoFundMe.com.