Fundraising drive helps purchase specialist equipment for Ysbyty Gwynedd's Neonatal Unit

Thousands of pounds have helped towards paying for new equipment at Ysbyty Gwynedd’s Neonatal Unit by the family of a boy who was given lifesaving treatment as a newborn.

Laura O’Sullivan and her family have raised nearly £4,000 towards purchasing Tecotherm NEO equipment which consists of a cooling machine and mattress for the Neonatal Unit.

Laura’s son, Jac, was born with HIE (Hypoxic – ischaemic encephalopathy), a condition caused by a lack of blood and oxygen reaching the baby’s brain and was experiencing a number of seizures due to the condition following his birth.

He was transferred to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd’s Special Care Baby Unit and was placed in a cooling machine for 72 hours as part of treatment known as therapeutic hypothermia, this lowers the body temperature and limits the extent of brain injury caused by the condition.

Laura said: “We are so pleased we could help fundraise towards this lifesaving equipment for Ysbyty Gwynedd’s Neonatal Unit.

“I would like to thank everyone who supported this fundraising drive to help ensure all babies born with HIE are able to start their treatment as soon as possible.

“We will be forever in debt to all the staff at both Ysbyty Gwynedd and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd who looked after Jac.”

Jo Douglas, Paediatric and Neonatal Service Manager for the West of Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board, said: “The donation from the Jac’s Mat fund was instrumental in getting the process started to seek funding for this machine and we are extremely grateful to all the family, friends and supporters of the fundraising team for all their efforts and support.

“This machine is proven to improve outcomes for babies who have suffered oxygen deprivation around the time of birth which may be detrimental to the baby’s brain.

“Having this system in Ysbyty Gwynedd enables us to commence this critical care soon after birth while waiting for the retrieval team to transfer the baby to the Neonatal Unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital.

“This piece of equipment will ensure that the medical and nursing staff at Ysbyty Gwynedd can be assured that they are able to do the very best for these babies.”