A COUPLE who lost their baby girl 11 weeks after she was born are grateful for the support they’ve received following her passing, and are overwhelmed by the neighbours who fundraised for two important causes in her memory.

Freya Hope Morrow, the baby daughter of Tracey Duignan and Adam Morrow from Newtownbutler, passed away on June 7, 11 weeks after she was born prematurely at 24 weeks and six days due to pre-eclampsia.

According to the NHS, pre-eclampsia is a condition that affects some pregnant women, usually during the second half of pregnancy, from around 20 weeks, or soon after their baby is delivered.

Although many cases are mild, the condition can lead to serious complications for both mother and baby if it’s not monitored and treated.

Freya’s heartbroken mother, Tracey, spoke to The Impartial Reporter to help raise awareness of the condition.

“I became quite ill when I was 22 weeks pregnant with her, and then I went into the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) and Royal [Victoria Hospital, Belfast] at 23 weeks, and I had Freya at 24 weeks and six days, so she was born because of pre-eclampsia.

“I had very early stage of pre-eclampsia,” said Tracey, going on to explain that she experienced “lots of swelling”, which is one of the symptoms of the condition.

Early signs of pre-eclampsia include having high blood pressure (hypertension) and protein in your urine (proteinuria). In some cases, further symptoms can develop, including swelling of the feet, ankles, face and hands caused by fluid retention (oedema); severe headaches; vision problems and pain just below the ribs.

The NHS advises that if a pregnant woman notices any symptoms of pre-eclampsia, they should seek medical advice immediately by calling their midwife, GP surgery or NHS 111.

Tracey noted that with her pre-eclampsia, there were a lot of concerns about her health as her blood pressure was really high.

“[Freya] was born as a result of pre-eclampsia, and she was in the neonatal ward in the Royal. They were fantastic, they were absolutely unbelievable,” said Tracey of the medical staff who tended to her and her daughter.

After she was born, Freya underwent surgery three times during her short life. “She had a bowel surgery when she was two weeks old, and she had heart surgery about two weeks before she passed away, and then she had eye surgery.

“Freya was doing absolutely fantastically. She was on the road [to recovery] home, just before it all happened,” said Tracey. “She passed away of a condition called ‘necrotising enterocolitis’ (NEC), and that was a gut infection.

“We thought she was in the clear, and it was really spontaneous that that [infection] even happened.

“It was horrific – really, really horrific, and really shocking,” she told this newspaper.

Grateful for the support she and her partner, Adam, have received throughout, Tracey said: “We have fantastic family and fantastic friends, so we are really lucky.”

She noted that they also had a support worker from Tiny Life, Northern Ireland’s premature and vulnerable baby charity, visit with them after Freya was born: “They were fantastic, and they still are; they still keep in touch.”

Last Saturday, June 19, Tracey and Adam’s young neighbours, Sarah, James and Peter Elliott, ran 10K in memory of Freya.

“[They did it] as part of the Enniskillen 10K virtual run – we are so proud of them!” said Tracey, noting how they have raised almost £2,000.

“All our family want to thank everyone who has contributed and donated, who have sent cards and condolences, and a big thank-you to the Elliott family, who have worked so hard to collect money for the Tiny Life charity, and the neonatal unit in the Royal Victoria Hospital.

“That’s something that we weren’t ready to do and, if anything, it took our mind off things, and it helped us grieve, [knowing that] in a way we’re helping other mothers and other babies,” said Tracey. She added: “We are very lucky to have such close friends and family, and really good people around us and good support.”