A local family are grateful their newborn son is alive following the terrifying moment his lung collapsed just hours after he was born.
Brianna Woods was concerned when listening to her son Kyron breathe in the hours after his birth.
“He sounded like a baby goat,” she recalls.
“I thought – this isn’t right - so I called a nurse who called the doctor who administered cold pressed oxygen and then his lung collapsed.”
Within minutes the medical team jumped into action and it was decided to airlift baby Kyron to Townsville.
“It was extremely scary because when my first baby was born, he was airlifted to Mackay,” said Brianna.
“It was like reliving a nightmare, going through it all again.”
Kyron was flown at a low altitude so that no additional damage was done to his lung and was soon in the care of experts.
Brianna and her husband were not permitted to travel on the aircraft, so they raced home to Bowen, packed a quick overnight bag and drove straight to Townsville.
When they arrived, Kyron was connected to several beeping machines which was terrifying for the new parents to witness.
Their newborn son spent the next two days on oxygen and was attached to a CPAP machine while doctors put a drain on his lung.
Fortunately, his lung soon returned to normal, and all his signs were looking good.
“After a few days we took his wires off to give him a bath and all his levels were perfect,” said Brianna.
“But that night they declined again so he was put back on oxygen.”
While Kyron was under specialist care, Brianna and her husband, Bayden, were welcomed into the nearby Ronald McDonald House.
Located a one-minute walk away from the hospital, the Ronald McDonald House provides accommodation for families with sick children.
During their stay, Brianna met one lady who had spent six months at the house while her newborn twins received medical care.
“The house was a life-saver to so many of us in there,” said Brianna.
“You walk in, and everything is there – food, a bed, drinks – and there are other people to talk to who are going through a similar situation so you can comfort each other.
“The hospital can be very stressful with endless rounds of doctors and registrars; it was all so much to take in and it was nice to be able to escape that for a bit.”
After nine days at Townsville Hospital, Kyron was released and he is now a healthy four-month-old baby leading a normal life.
Recently, Brianna’s mum took a donation box full of children’s toys and clothes to Ronald McDonald House to say thank you.
Brianna will always remember her time at “Ronny Mac’s” and she said would recommend others to use the service if it is offered to them.
“I was a bit nervous at first, being away from Kyron, but it’s only a minute’s walk away,” she said.
“Don’t be scared, just take it in and use the service, it made all the difference when we were there.”
Caption:
1: Baby Kyron’s lung collapsed a few hours after he was born
3: The family deliver a thank you package to the Ronald McDonald House
4: Kyron is now a fit and healthy four-month-old baby. Photos supplied