Baby JournalRiley Kirkman

Baby’s 1st scanBaby’s 1st scan

Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Weight: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Eye Colour: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hair: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hospital: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Time: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Riley Kirkman

5lbs 14oz

Blue

Brown

Royal Bolton Hospital, Transferred to Great Ormond Street, London

3.17pm

Baby’s BirthBaby’s Birth

NotesNotes

Little Riley was just hours old when doctors at the Royal Bolton Hospital told me there was something seriously wrong with his windpipe.

He was transferred to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital where

doctors diagnosed tracheal stenosis – a severe condition that stopped

Riley from breathing properly and required immediate surgery.

London’s Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital is the only place in

the whole of the UK where this lifesaving surgery is carried out.

.

So at just one week old, Riley and I had to travel down to London by road. I couldn’t believe we had to travel so far when he was still so young.

One of my first questions was whether we would be able to fly to

London, but I was told that such a service was not yet available

and the journey by road was our

only option. It was a

long, tiring experience

and extremely stressful,

especially given that I

had only given birth a

week ago.

Our story

The time it took meant I was constantly dwelling on the serious nature of my baby’s illness and the surgery ahead.

By the time we arrived in London I was feeling very stressed and emotional

and of course worried about Riley’s wellbeing.

Having a helicopter available to transfer Riley as well as the medical crew would have made the experience so much easier – it would have been less stressful, less tiring and much less worrying.

It could have also meant Riley would have

received the lifesaving surgical procedure

sooner.

If Riley had been flown from Manchester to London, the journey time could have been just 55 minutes.

I can’t stress enough what a difference

having the service would have made to

us. We received excellent care at all of the hospitals but

the journeys were exhausting both mentally and physically.

NotesNotes

The Children’s Air Ambulance is desperately needed –

and so is your support, please donate today!!

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