Mum Lisa Davey, Sister Danielle and baby Danielle
A miracle baby has been named after a nurse at Blackpool Victoria Hospital following a near-death experience.
Ten month-old Danielle Alice Davey was born prematurely to save her and her mum’s life and took her name from the Accident and Emergency sister that cared for them.
Twenty-seven year-old Lisa Davey was brought in to A&E with a suspected abdominal infection in April 2017. Sister Danielle McLardie had just started her shift with Lisa being her first patient.
In the Emergency Room, an ultrasound revealed that Lisa was actually 26 weeks pregnant and had developed HELLP syndrome – a rare liver a blood clotting disorder that can affect pregnant women. This then led to sepsis and Lisa’s organs started to fail.
In a bid to save both mum and baby, doctors decided to take Lisa to theatre for a caesarean section. The baby girl was born 14 weeks early and taken to the Neonatal Unit at Royal Preston Hospital for specialist care. Lisa went onto the Intensive Care Unit.
Danielle said: “Lisa was so poorly, we didn’t know her or the baby would make it. Nobody had a clue when she came in that Lisa was pregnant – including Lisa herself.
“There was only a tiny tummy bump which we thought could be linked to a possible infection. I stayed with Lisa for three and a half hours and visited her each time I was on shift.”
When Lisa eventually came round, she was told that she had been very seriously ill and that she was also now a mother.
Lisa said: “I couldn’t believe it. I had been working long hours and lifting heavy boxes. I had no clue I was pregnant. I had no symptoms. When I met my baby girl a week later, I knew I had to call her Danielle after the fantastic care I received from such a wonderful nurse.”
Ten months on, both mum and baby are doing well and are enjoying a normal life in Blackpool.
Sister Danielle said: “When Lisa told me the baby’s name, I cried I was so overwhelmed – I was just doing my job. But having such a cute bundle of joy named after me is such a huge honour, it’s the highlight of my career.”