A mum who went into hospital for cramps was rushed for an emergency C-section at 26 weeks pregnant.
Grace Baker, 24, said she "felt stupid" when she experienced some unusual cramps, but after a scan initially struggled to find a heartbeat, doctors soon told her it was "not the heartbeat they wanted" and she was rushed for surgery.
As her husband rushed back from work, the Winsford family soon welcomed their son Archie into the world on November 5 at the Liverpool Women's Hospital. But bad news came when they were warned of several bleeds on his brain.
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Grace, who described her son as a "fighter", said: "It was a lot. From being moved to a different area for the C-section to then be told he had a grade 4 bleed on the brain. We were told he had developed hydrocephalus and the fluid wasn't being controlled."
Archie spent 40 days on a ventilator before he was strong enough for surgery at Alder Hey where he was given a shunt. Grace added: "It was a little miracle."
But on December 29, the family found themselves at their local hospital in Leighton as they noticed something different with his eyes. He was diagnosed with ROP, meaning his retina could detach at any moment.
After being given eye drops, Grace said she soon noticed Archie's head swelling up and his heart rate spiking past 200. She said this was a sign his shunt had "stopped working" and he was rushed back to Alder Hey for further surgery.
She told the ECHO: "He had to have a magnet to control his shunt meaning he can't go near any magnet. Alder Hey have been amazing, he has an amazing neurosurgeon who explained everything to us.
"It's scary finding out your son is having brain surgery but we are so thankful to them. We were made to feel at ease, everyone is so lovely."
Archie's quick recovery after his second surgery surprised everyone as he was back in a cot on oxygen within an hour. Soon being allowed back home, Archie was "active and happy" and was a "completely different child."
But on February 15 he needed laser eye surgery at Alder Hey due to his eye conditioning worsening. On May 15, Archie began to vomit all the time but doctors said his CT scans were clear and it was likely a bug.
But Grace said his eyes were rolling, he kept going floppy and he wouldn't drink. She said: "I knew something was up. His scans were fine but they can change at any minute.
"As the week went on he got more poorly but they said it was a bug. On Friday his belly was up and he was only responding to people piking him. His head was bulged out and we were told at Alder Hey his shunt had malfunctioned."
At Alder Hey, Archie, now six months old, was prepped for emergency surgery, but doctors told Grace he "may not be the same baby" due to the amount of time fluid had been building up. Luckily, Archie's surgery was a success and he is "back to being himself".
Grace is sharing their journey in the hopes of raising awareness and urging other parents to know the signs. She said common signs are head shape and size looking off for their age and anything "out of the ordinary" such as eye change or eyes rolling back.
She added that continuous vomiting is also a worry and if your child is not responding when a light is shining in their eyes. She said: "Unfortunately, our babies can't tell us, we are their advocates.
"My son is a very happy, giggly and energetic boy so when he suddenly stopped doing that, I knew something was wrong. If they are just not themselves, get them checked out.
"Every child is different. We got told our child won't walk or talk again but they have to tell you the worst. Keep trying to get answers and stay positive. Alder Hey is an amazing hospital and if it wasn't for them, Archie wouldn't be the little boy he is now."
Grace is sharing Archie's journey online as she helps raise awareness which can be found by clicking here. More information about hydrocephalus can be found here.
According to the NHS, Hydrocephalus is a build-up of fluid in the brain. The excess fluid puts pressure on the brain, which can damage it. If left untreated, hydrocephalus can be fatal. Symptoms can include:
- headache
- being sick
- blurred vision
- difficulty walking
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