Every baby is a little miracle – but Juliet Smith was already that even before she was born…thanks in no small way to a voluntary blood delivery service in her native Galway.
Juliet was born on September 23, 2014 at University Hospital, Galway – but her story was already well underway by then. For a start, at that point, she was Ireland’s most scanned baby according, to her mother Gabrielle.
That’s because Juliet had a condition that threatened to take her before she was born; a condition so rare that it was described as one-in-a-million. Gabrielle was told that her baby might not survive and that she should prepare for the worst.
The condition was Rhesus iso-immunisation – where, in essence, Gabrielle’s blood type was Rhesus negative and her baby was Rhesus positive.
This isn’t an uncommon situation and can be dealt with in nearly all cases with an infusion of anti-d – but in Gabrielle’s case her antibody levels were so high that the medical staff dealing with her said they had never levels like them in anybody.
Little Juliet had fluid around her lungs and heart and despite reacting positively to an initial infusion of blood at around twenty weeks her condition started to deteriorate again.
A second infusion was administered and again there was an improvement followed by a decline. It was at this stage that the medical staff in the Rotunda, where Gabrielle was receiving treatment, believed that little Juliet probably wouldn’t make it.
“The news was devastating, even though it was expected to a certain extent,” Gabrielle said. “She received five transfusions in all but it wasn’t until the third transfusion came from Galway that we then had some real hope.”
That transfusion came via Blood Bikes from Galway – and Mike Carty was on the motorbike that day.
“We knew that this little baby was in a serious condition and that there was a chance that she might not make it, even with the transfusion,” he said.
“But we felt that if there was the slightest chance that the blood that we were going to deliver would save her we were going to deliver it no matter what.”
And deliver it they did! Juliet’s condition improved and continued to improve as she grew steadily stronger.
“We knew after a few weeks then that she would be fine,” a delighted Gabrielle said. “We were able to come to Galway for the birth at 34 weeks which was great.”
Little Juliet is now living in Bearna with parents Gabrielle and Alan, and her older sister Ava – and as Mom says: “she’s flying it.”
Gabrielle and Alan are quick to acknowledge how indebted they will always be to the Blood Bikes crew for playing a part in saving the life of their little girl.
“We can’t say enough good things about them or praise them enough. They are a fantastic group and we will be forever grateful to them.”
And they’re not the only ones – because Blood Bikes help save lives every day with their voluntary delivery service.
One of their three bikes is called Juliet, joining Sophie and Tom in saving lives by delivering blood supplies for free to places quicker than even the emergency services could manage.
To help fund this vital emergency service, there will be a charity event in aid of Bike Fest West in the Galway Plaza today (Sunday).
The Monster Bike Exhibition, Family Funday and Charity Run will also include an appearance from Galway’s world-renowned charity stunt rider, Mattie Griffin.
Registration is from 9am and the Bike Run departs at 11am sharp, returning to the Plaza for the start of the Fun Day at 1.30pm.
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