Sussex couple's heartache as baby daughter dies after 11 days

A Sussex couple have been left to grieve the death of their 11-day-old baby on their own due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Faye and Jamie Mceniry with Sienna and LunaFaye and Jamie Mceniry with Sienna and Luna
Faye and Jamie Mceniry with Sienna and Luna

Faye Mceniry, 35, gave birth to Tula Bea Mceniry, who weighed just 1lb 2oz, after little more than 23 weeks of pregnancy on April 26.

However, after just 11 days, Tula died on Thursday, May 7.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the visiting restrictions in place at hospitals as a result, Faye and her husband Jamie, from Bexhill, have been forced to grieve the loss of their baby on their own.

TulaBeaMceniryTulaBeaMceniry
TulaBeaMceniry
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On the day of Faye's 35th birthday - March 23, the first day of lockdown - she went to hospital to check on their baby as she 20 weeks pregnant and bleeding.

On that day, she was told if she went 24 hours without bleeding, she could go home. She could not.

She spent three weeks in hospital, lying in bed, scared to move, counting down the days until she could leave as visiting restrictions in place at hospitals due to the Covid-19 pandemic meant she could not have any visitors.

The day she made it to 23 weeks, she had a massive bleed and was rushed to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton.

Faye and Jamie Mceniry with Sienna and LunaFaye and Jamie Mceniry with Sienna and Luna
Faye and Jamie Mceniry with Sienna and Luna
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There she was given steroid injections to boost her baby's lungs and hooked up to a magnesium sulphate drip to help her baby's brain in case she was born early.

After three days, Faye gave birth to tiny Tula - at 4am on April 26 - who weighed just 1lb 2oz.

"She was breathing and taken to intensive care where she was thriving and getting stronger everyday," said Faye.

"Five days later I was told she had a perforated bowel and she needed surgery immediately and that Tula was so small she might not make it.

Faye MceniryFaye Mceniry
Faye Mceniry
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"Poor Jamie had to meet our baby for the first time and potentially say goodbye, it was heartbreaking. We sat terrified waiting for what felt like a lifetime then a knock at the door came and she was OK."

However, on day nine, Faye and Jamie were told Tula had just two hours to live as her lungs were starting to give up.

Despite getting back on track, on day 11 Faye and Jamie received a call from the hospital as Tula was not responding well to treatment and options were running out.

The couple were asked to come into hospital to talk about end of life care.

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Faye added: "I felt like I had been stabbed in the heart 100,000 times. I thought she was doing well. I thought she was on the mend.

"On Thursday the 7th April our daughter took her last breaths in my arms. The first time I got to hold my baby was the last. My life will never be the same. I can still hear the sounds of the machines and the alarms going off in my head.

"I can still smell the hospital. Because of Covid-19 it's like she never existed, because no one got to meet her. Because of Covid-19, I birthed alone. Because of Covid-19 I spent six weeks on my own, as no visitors allowed. Because of Covid-19 I spent six weeks away from my husband and children (Sienna, 11, and Luna, 2) at home. I missed six weeks of their lives which would have been worth it ten times over if Tula had been ok, but she's not.

"I've lost her, I'm devastated, I'm angry, I'm tired, I'm sad, I'm heartbroken. Why her? Why me? Why us? I just can't get my head around it. My body is telling me I've had a baby but she's not here. A piece of me is missing and I desperately want her back.

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"Tula Bea Mceniry you have made me the proudest mummy the way you fought so hard to stay in this world. You were just too tiny and precious my darling and I'm sorry I couldn't protect you.

"My heart hurts so bad, and I will long for you forever. You will always be with me. RIP my beautiful teeny tiny Tula.

"I want to keep her memory alive."

Following Tula's death, friends of Faye and Jamie have set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for a funeral and memorial. If you would like to donate, please click here.

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