JUST a week after saying her final goodbye to her precious baby boy Lachlan, Kate Hennessy wants to honour the work of the doctors and health professionals who fought tenaciously to save her little boy’s life.
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Baby Lachlan Hennessy died in his mother’s arms at Westmead Hospital unable to survive a rare renal condition which meant his tiny lungs were unable to develop in the womb.
Despite her grief, Ms Hennessy says she wants to use Kidney Health Week to draw attention to the work of researchers at Westmead Children’s Hospital where she says she and her son were given extraordinary treatment.
“Lachlan’s condition was very rare and random and he was I believe only one in 20,000 babies who had the condition,” she said.
“There has been very little research able to be conducted in the last 20 years, with no real advances in treating this condition.
“Although this is a very difficult time, during Kidney Health Week I want to take the opportunity to let people know that the amazing medical professionals at Westmead Children’s Hospital renal unit are now planning to gather data and conduct research into rare renal conditions like the one that affected Lachlan, in the hope we can make a difference in the future.”
Ms Hennessy says she’s now embarking on a fundraising campaign and wants people to think about donating to the cause.
“I really want the fundraising to be Lachlan’s legacy,” she said.
In January this year, 22 weeks into her pregnancy, Ms Hennessy was given the devastating news her baby son had a condition called posterior urethral valve syndrome that could threaten his life.
Ms Hennessy, supported by her family and friends, tried to do everything possible to keep her baby boy safe until he was delivered.
“There really wasn’t a lot the medical profession could do except monitor Lachlan’s condition and hope he would be strong enough to survive at birth so he could be treated for his condition,” she said.
Baby Lachlan’s condition caused a reduction in amniotic fluid during pregnancy, which compromised the development of his lungs and caused difficulty breathing at birth.
“Unfortunately this was the case for my beautiful son Lachlan and although he was 3.06 kilograms in weight at birth, his lungs were just too tiny,” she said.
Despite doctors’ efforts, Lachlan died in Ms Hennessy’s arms when he was a little more than 24 hours old, on May 15 and his funeral was held in Orange last week.
Ms Hennessy said the doctors involved in the care of her baby son have agreed to put half the money raised in Lachlan’s name towards assisting rural families whose children have to have dialysis at home.
The other half of the money raised is to go towards information, research and education into the rare renal condition that took Lachlan’s life.
“I am hoping the legacy of my beautiful baby boy will save some lives and make a real difference.”
Donations in memory of Lachlan Michael Hennessy can be made by going to http://support.bandagedbear.org.au and placing Lachlan’s name in the comments field.
Alternatively you can collect a postage paid envelope with details of how to donate to Lachlan’s legacy at the Central Western Daily office.