New digs for baby Jack

A very smiley baby in Cork who has never known life outside of a hospital is asking for just a little help to build his brand new bedroom.

Little Jack Coughlan, born in July last year, was diagnosed with an omphalocele and a heart defect when just 12 weeks in utero.

From Cork, parents Rory and Nadege were referred to Dublin where, two months later, Jack’s heart condition was diagnosed as tetralogy of Fallot with double outlet right ventricle, a condition where a child’s heart doesn't form properly during fetal development.

When he was three weeks old, Jack started to experience severe breathing difficulties and his parents were asked to consider a tracheostomy, the alternative being an oxygen mask covering his entire face that would likely be detrimental to his development.

After nine weeks in ICU, “mighty warrior” Jack was sent to the only ward able to manage the ventilator connected to his ‘trachy’, where we his parents were trained to do what the nurses do in order to care for him every day.

“We consider ourselves so lucky to have this precious little boy who loves nothing more than a cuddle, to sit on his daddy’s lap, to have a little dance with his mommy and to look at the stars from his mobile reflect on his hands,” his parents said.

The next step in Jack’s journey is heart surgery in a few weeks’ time followed by a lengthy recovery.

Having already been in Dublin for seven months while paying for a mortgage and bills back home, Jack’s parents have been hit financially.

With the considerable costs of Jack’s purpose-built bedroom looming large, they have started a GoFundMe campaign called Help us build new digs for Jack to raise funds for the room.

As it stands, the room is a converted garage with adjoining utility room and will require reroofing, insulating, and levelling, as well as enough room and facilities to accommodate a night nurse.

Once Jack is home, one of his parents will have to put their career on hold as children with his needs require 24 hour care and supervision to ensure their tube doesn’t get blocked or dislodged.

His parents said: “We will forever be grateful to our obstetrician who referred us to a great team of doctors at the Coombe and Crumlin hospitals. We have received amazing support from our families and friends and have bonded with incredible families going through heart breaking situations. All of this will remain in our hearts well after we finally get to take Jack home back to the real capital. Please be assured that should our goal be reached, we will donate any excess money to charity.”