Oisin T's quilt    (Quilt Completed)

Thank you

Look at the absolutely amazing gift I've come home to from Love Quilts UK…. The work that has went into this is 1st class. Each square has been cross stitched by a different lady and they have all added their names, then it has all been put together by the lovely Sandra…. What an amazing group of volunteers! Feeling very privileged that all these people who live world wide have went to the bother of making me this perfect gift….thank you Katherine and Gaynor for organising it, I will treasure it forever.

Finished photos

Individual squares

Card

Stitched by: Jill Smith

Biography

Oisín was born in 2018 at 950grams after I developed sepsis and was rushed for an emergency C-section, a day we both came very close to losing our lives. Oisín is now 3 years old and a real life little miracle with the most infectious smile. He has been through so much in his short life, spending the 1st 7 months in NICU where he had some major ups and downs, nearly losing him multiple times and being told he would never make it home. With multiple surgeries and hospital visits he continues to face new challenges on a daily basis.

He has battled against the odds with jaundice, anemia, multiple infections, sepsis several times, suspected NEC, renal failure, hypoalbuminia, broncomalacia, retinopathy of prematurity, ventriculomegaly, periventricular leukomalacia, displaced lines, chronic lung disease, 27 chest drains, 1 abdominal drain, 2 eye surgeries, MLB, sub glottic cyst, bilateral hernia repair, 40plus blood transfusions, several hundred X-rays, blood tests and cannulas inserted. Peg tube insertion and a fundoplication for severe GERD. He still remains tube fed and is on oxygen at night.

At only 2 weeks old a line delivering treatment displaced into his abdomen and put extreme pressure on his tiny body, causing his oxygen levels and blood pressure to drop. This was one of the times we were told he wouldn’t make it and there were no other treatment options available. Three weeks later we were told he developed some small cysts on his brain due to the stress his body had been under but it was nothing to worry about. Fast forward another 4 weeks and we were told it had developed into severe bilateral periventricular leukomalacia with ventriculomegaly. We were told to prepare for the worst.

We now know that Oisín has quadriplegic cerebral palsy among other conditions. This means he has difficulties with muscle control, balance and coordination, so simple things such as sitting without support are extremely difficult. He’s incredibly determined and tries so hard every day to learn these things.