A young mother who gave birth while in a coma and didnt meet or hold her baby girl for the first time until eight days later has opened up about the ordeal.
Perth woman Kiri Sheehan, 28, was 30 weeks pregnant with Luna, when she contracted a severe case of flu and couldnt fight the infection with medication due to being in the final trimester of pregnancy.
Ms Sheehan was admitted to Perths Joondalup Health Campus on August 31 suffering severe chest pain and breathing difficulties before she was diagnosed with pneumonia and a collapsed lung.
After that I kept passing in and out (of consciousness), I pretty much cant remember anything from that moment on, Ms Sheehan told 7news.com.au.
By that night, she had been placed in a medically induced coma to allow Luna to further develop in the womb.
However, the next day doctors detected bleeding and had to perform a lifesaving emergency C-section while Kiri was still in a coma.
(My partner) Scott was very worried. Staff played it nice and calm because it was so serious. They didnt know if I would wake up, Ms Sheehan said.
Luna was born 10 weeks early on September 3, weighing just 1.4kg.
Kiri Sheehan with her daughter Luna who born by emergency C-section while her mother was in a coma
Luna, who was born 10 weeks premature and weighed just 1.4kg, remains in neonatal care
Little Luna was rushed to the neonatal department at Perths King Edward Memorial Hospital.
Ms Sheehan was gradually woken from her coma five days later when she was given little bits of information at a time but was assured Luna was safe.
While she was able to see her newborn daughter via video calls, it would be another three days before Ms Sheehan would be well enough to meet and hold Luna for the first time.
It was an instant connection. There was love, relief and it gave me more motivation to get out of hospital, Ms Sheehan recalled.
It was so beautiful, but really scary as well. She had so many cords and tubes and it was overwhelming but all I could have asked for.
Ms Sheehan was discharged from hospital a few days later on September 12.
Luna (pictured with dad Scott) didnt meet her mum until she was eight-days-old
The Perth mum (left) was 30 weeks pregnant with Luna when she was struck down with a severe case of the flue
Almost one month on, Ms Sheehan still experiences chest pain and breathing difficulties.
Doctors told her that if she hadnt gone to hospital when she did, it could led to her bleeding out and Luna not making it.
Now one-month-old, Luna is now out of intensive care but will remain in hospital for the foreseeable future.
Ms Sheehan and her partner Scott Haliday have three boys but have also experienced the tragedy of a stillbirth of a baby boy at 22 weeks.
A GoFundme page has been set up by her brother to help ease the financial burden on the family as medical and living expenses mount.
Mr Haliday has had to stop work as a subcontract plasterer to care for the couples three boys aged nine, six and four as his wife and baby girl continue to recover.
Without his income, the family struggles to cover basic expenses, including rent, bills, and the mounting medical costs for Kiri and Luna., the page stated.
Now one-month-old, baby Luna (pictured with mum Kiri) remains in hospital
Kiris husband Scott has been forced to stop working as subcontract plasterer to care for his family (pictured)
It also revealed that Luna has been fed through a stomach tube receiving 1ml of food every hour.
Once Kiri woke up and was okay she started pumping breastmilk for the nurses to send to King Edward Memorial Hospital for baby Luna, the page said.
The initial goal of $10,000 has already been surpassed with almost $13,000 pledged.
It is still quite a journey for Kiri and Luna to get back to full health, the page added.
This GoFundMe has been an absolute Godsend for the family as Scott doesnt need to stress about the finances and going back to work and instead can focus on helping Kiri and Baby Luna get all the support and care they need.