Baby who couldn’t breathe when he was born suffered 40 seizures in four days – Mirror Online

A baby who was unable to breathe when he was born suffered 40 seizures in four days because his brain was starved of oxygen.

Parents Laura O'Sullivan and Steven Griffiths could only watch as their boy Jac Patrick Griffiths was put into a hypothermic state in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd hospital in Bodelwyddan, Wales.

He was wrapped in a "cooling mat" for 72 hours as part of treatment known as therapeutic hypothermia, which helps limit the extent of any brain injury.

Fortunately, Jac appears to have recovered and is now at home - eleven weeks on from his 15-day hospital ordeal, the Daily Post reports.

It is not yet known whether he has suffered any permanent damage as a result of the episode, but so far, tests and milestone checks have been positive and he hasn't had a seizure since.

His parents, from Bangor, Wales, say they are indebted to medical staff for everything they did for their son and want to repay them by raising money for a cooling mat for Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital in Bangor.

The pair want to buy a mat for the hospital, which currently has none, so that babies starved of oxygen at birth can begin the treatment while they are being transferred to special care.

Ms O'Sullivan said: "Jac was born at Ysbyty Gwynedd a day early on July 14 after a brilliant text book pregnancy with no problems.

"But after a difficult labour, to our complete shock he was not breathing when he was born and was immediately taken to the special care baby unit at Glan Clwyd.

"Within hours he began to have seizures that continued for four days, in total Jac had around 40.

"What we now know is the seizures were a symptom of HIE (Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy) a condition caused by a lack of blood and oxygen reaching a baby's brain, in Jac's case during his birth.

"It can affect all of a baby's organs, particularly the brain where a lack of oxygen can lead to brain injury causing physical disability and learning difficulties.

"There is no cure for HIE, however in more severe cases, therapeutic hypothermia can reduce the extent of damage caused if given shortly after the oxygen depriving incident.

"It involves the baby being placed in a cooling mat for 72 hours.

"The mat lowers the body temperature to 33.5, placing the baby in a controlled hypothermic state and as a result limits the extent of brain injury caused by HIE."

The 32-year-old added: "Jac was transferred to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd at 15 hours old to receive this treatment as currently there is no such equipment available in Ysbyty Gwynedd.

"What happened to Jac was unusual but could happen to any baby.

"We have been very lucky, Jac is a healthy and happy boy and is not showing signs of any damage.

"Only time will if any permanent damage was done, but what we do know is that without the treatment it is highly likely any damage would be significantly worse."

The family have now set up a crowdfunding page to help other babies born in similar situations.

Ms O'Sullivan said: "We will be forever in debt to all the staff at both Ysbyty Gwynedd and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd who looked after Jac.

"Our hope is that we can go some way to repay this debt by helping Ysbyty Gwynedd to purchase a cooling mat to ensure babies born there with HIE are able to start the treatment without delay."

Dr Mair Parry, consultant paediatrician at Ysbyty Gwynedds childrens ward, said: We are delighted to hear Jac is doing well and we are very thankful to the family for raising funds towards our ward.

This equipment ensures that the appropriate specialist treatment can be started as soon as possible which will help improve the outcomes for babies diagnosed with HIE.

To make a donation, click here .

More:
Baby who couldn't breathe when he was born suffered 40 seizures in four days - Mirror Online