Parents raise £6000 for Leeds hospitals charity after heart-breaking death of one of their newborn twins

A heartbroken couple has raised £6000 to help hospitals in Leeds in the last year since losing one of their twins two days after his emergency birth.
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When she was 32 weeks pregnant, Sam Lyall had woken up with acute shoulder pain and began to feel extremely faint, so headed to St James’s Hospital with her partner Finn to be monitored.

The first-time mum was shocked to find out that she had developed a rare type of preeclampsia called HELLP syndrome overnight which had caused her liver to haemorrhage.

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A few hours later at 11.10am on March 27, 2020, Lyall and Bryn were born by emergency c-section and doctors had kept Sam alive by applying pressure on her liver, preventing her from losing blood.

Sam, Finn, Lyall and Bryn.Sam, Finn, Lyall and Bryn.
Sam, Finn, Lyall and Bryn.

Due to complications of HELLP syndrome, Bryn was without oxygen for 20 minutes but was resuscitated by the amazing neonatal team while Sam was rushed into theatre and placed into a coma on the Intensive Care Unit to recover from the damage to her liver, while Bryn and Lyall were on the Neonatal Unit.

It was two days later before she could meet her boys - but it was bittersweet.

She said: "I’m so grateful that the staff brought Lyall and Bryn down from the Neonatal Unit so that I could meet them. However, it was bittersweet as Bryn’s condition had deteriorated and we knew this was going to be goodbye; he passed away in my arms peacefully.”

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The family, of Headingley, knew they wanted to do something to thank the incredible staff for the compassion and care they showed not only to Bryn and Lyall, but to their whole family. So, she decided to set up a fundraising page for Leeds Hospitals Charity and was overwhelmed by the support she received from family and friends, helping to raise over £6,000.

The Yorkshire Evening Post has teamed up with Leeds Hospitals Charity for the Help Your Hospitals campaign.The Yorkshire Evening Post has teamed up with Leeds Hospitals Charity for the Help Your Hospitals campaign.
The Yorkshire Evening Post has teamed up with Leeds Hospitals Charity for the Help Your Hospitals campaign.

She added: “All of the staff were absolutely amazing, despite the pandemic. Their kindness was above and beyond the call of duty. I hope that the money we have raised will help other families going through this experience. It’s such a positive way to remember our little boy, Bryn had so much fight in him and showed so much love and courage in the short time he was with us.”

Leeds Hospitals Charity is the charity for Leeds Teaching Hospitals and supports NHS staff to deliver the best care for patients and their families, by raising funds for equipment, services, education and research.

The charity provides support for eight areas which includes Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds Children’s Hospital, Leeds Cancer Centre, St James’s University Hospital, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Seacroft Hospital, Wharfdale Hospital and Leeds Dental Institute.

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The Yorkshire Evening Post has teamed up with Leeds Hospitals Charity for the Help Your Hospitals campaign. It asks our readers to help the charity to reach its goal of raising an additional £3m during 2021 by becoming a friend and making a regular donation each month.

Text FRIEND to 70660 to donate £5 a month or visit leedshospitalscharity.org.uk to set up a regular donation for any sum or make a one-off gift to the charity.

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