‘Every second of every day was agony’ after baby turned blue

“He turned blue and wasn’t breathing properly,” said Southwater mother Jo Taylor. “Every second of every day from then was agony.”

The new born arrived at Haywards Heath Hospital on Tuesday November 29, and was quickly transferred to The Evelina Children’s Hospital in London later that day.

Over the next five weeks the brave one-week-old boy’s survival depended on a rare life-support machine. Jo said: “These beds are limited, and there were even talks about going to Scotland or Sweden.”

Joseph underwent six risky surgeries and was later transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital. However, after weeks of battling with his poor health and unavoidable complications, the decision was made to switch off life support.

Joseph Elisha Taylor died on Tuesday January 3 2012.

Said Jo: “They did everything they possibly could do to try and save him, then they turned off the machine and wrapped him up, and put him in my arms, and we sang to him as he died. I felt overwhelming grief, that feeling of life will never be the same again, but also hope, believing he was free from his illness and in a better place.”

The 29-year-old mother and husband Dave have since set about raising money for the Evelina - topping £3,000 in just one week.

She said: “The majority of his time was at the Evelina where he was treated with such incredible care, thoughtfulness and consideration. Joseph was so blessed to have this incredible team of mothers and fathers to attend to his every whim.

“As parents, we were treated like family and were able to continue to nurture our son like he was still at home with us.

“I never knew that such devoted and loving people existed until now, but I’m eternally grateful that they do and that they choose to give their lives to such an incredible calling of caring for children and babies when they need it most.”

She added: “We are so grateful for the support of our church through this incredibly difficult time, they showed God’s love to us in a practical way and we will never forget that.

“So many people have told us their lives have been changed by Joseph’s courage and strength. We know his little life was not in vain.”

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