Ciaran was born with the condition Congenital Diaphramatic Hernia.This condition required Ciaran to have the first of several corrective operations at just 19 days old. His initial chances of survival were given at only 5%.
Ciaran’s mum Claire said, “When Ciaran was born, his bowel, liver and stomach were up in his chest through a hole in his diaphragm. He had very little lung capacity and was immediately placed on ventilation. He was then treated with an ECMO machine for nine days, and that increased his chances of survival to 50%. The ECMO machine needs platelets to work, and at the time I did not even know what platelets were. As a result of this treatment, and after several more operations, we were able to bring Ciaran home at 11 weeks old. His lung is now functioning normally for the time being, and he is a beautiful thriving little boy who is the light of our lives.
Ciaran needed several doses of platelets and several whole blood transfusions for his life saving treatment. I had never heard of platelets before this happened to my family, and I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to every platelet donor in Scotland. I am now planning to become a platelet donor myself, and I’d like to encourage many others to do so!”
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