Marcie’s mum Myka writes,
“I have struggled to write this as processing everything that happened when my daughter was born has taken months. It was a traumatic experience for myself, my boyfriend and our families.
I was tested for Strep B during pregnancy as I was a high risk type one diabetic and was experiencing bleeding. The result came back positive, but I was reassured that during labour I would be given the antibiotic drip.
Unfortunately, my waters ruptured a month early and my baby wasn’t moving. After six hours they gave me an emergency c section and Marcie was born. She wasn’t breathing and was put on oxygen. From there it really went downhill and we were informed she wasn’t going to make it. Her lungs were failing, her heart wasn’t supporting her body and other organ failures were starting. To top it off she was having low blood sugars, but I expected this.
I mentally prepared for my baby dying. I went into a dark place as health professionals from two hospitals couldn’t figure out why she was so sick. My loving partner and family stayed with her whilst I recovered for two days. She was on 12 different types of medication putting her in a coma and ballooning her body full of fluid.
She was referred for Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) as a last resort to alder hey. I was finally discharged and as I arrived to kiss my baby with what I thought was Our first and last kiss goodbye, the doctor recognised group B Strep infection, and saved her life.
After a week on incubators and all sorts of tubes she made a huge recovery and we finally got to hold her. A magical experience that was made more special by her recovery. Nurses who treated her at all three hospitals called her the miracle baby and were hugging us. Marcie’s diagnosis was sepsis resulting from Strep B. An ongoing investigation is underway. Our baby is nearly one and reaching all her milestones. To mums to be out there, I urge you to get tested. We got so lucky.”
