Mum welcomes miracle baby thanks to medics
Meet miracle baby Kiyaan – brought into this world with the support of medics from our Women’s Hospital.
His mum Eve Sleigh had suffered unimaginable tragedy, when her first child Laith was born premature at just 25 weeks and passed away three weeks later after developing sepsis.
Tests revealed that Eve, from Hall Green, had sticky blood syndrome, also known as Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS).
When Eve and her partner Haaroon found out they were expecting again, she was put under the care of The Rainbow Clinic, a service for women who have experienced babyloss or miscarriage and need further medical support.
So impressed was she with the care received, that she nominated them for a prestigious Moment of Magic accolade at our staff recognition event The BWC Spirit Awards.
And we're delighted to reveal the clinic won the gong at the ceremony on Friday (see picture below).
Eve said: "The Rainbow Clinic was a lifeline for both of us. It's fantastic news that they have won.
“Sitting in the waiting room knowing all the parents there have gone through something like us was reassuring.
“I didn’t want to be in the same room as I was with Laith, and they made sure that never happened.
"Finding out my diagnosis was really validating," said the 32-year-old.
“I blamed myself a lot. I kept thinking whether I’d missed a vitamin tablet or done something wrong. It felt reassuring to know it was a condition that I had no control over.
“I was petrified at the thought of having another baby, but over time I began to long for it.
“I felt like I’d been robbed of a pregnancy journey, when we were supposed to be holding my baby shower we were holding Laith's funeral.”
Treatment began immediately and Eve was prescribed blood thinning injections and aspirin along with regular scans.
Despite the medication, some scans showed her baby was measuring small and her placenta was struggling.
She explained: “One day the scans looked normal but the next time he wasn’t growing as he should.
“We couldn’t work out why.”
When she was 33 weeks pregnant, scans showed signs of placenta failure and experts advised it was safest for her to give birth.
Kiyaan was born weighing just 3lbs 15oz and spent his first three days on the NICU until he was stable.
Further tests on her placenta led to a second diagnosis of Chronic Histiocytic Intervillositis (CHI), a rare condition where the mother's immune system attacks and damages the placenta.
Eve said: “Getting that second diagnosis was the last piece of the puzzle.
“It felt like there was something missing as to why I couldn’t have a healthy pregnancy, and I was still blaming myself.
“Knowing there were two conditions working against me felt like a heaviness lifted off my shoulders.”
Kiyaan is now five months old and enjoying life at home with his family.
“He’s absolutely perfect," Eve added. “He’s been golden. He’s so smiley and giggly, and he’s just obsessed with lights and sounds and textures.
“I’m so thankful to The Rainbow Clinic and Sue Drew, the Perimental Health Counsellor for getting me through such a tough time. I don’t know how I would have got through this without them, and I credit my son to them.”