Baby Connor McCue diagnosed with cerebral palsy – months after successful liver transplant – Stoke Sentinel

Comments(0)

The parents of young liver transplant survivor Connor McCue have revealed he has now been diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Baby Connor, who was born with the rare childhood disease Biliary Atresia, underwent the successful operation in January.

He was kept in intensive care at Birmingham Children's Hospital because of his blood pressure dropping, so doctors sent him for an MRI scan to check for possible infections.

Now results have shown that the nine-month-old tot, from Meir Heath, has 'significant' brain damage, although no infection has been found.

His mother, Jessica McDonagh, is staying positive, despite the latest diagnosis.

Read more: Meir Heath baby Connor McCue set to leave intensive care after lifesaving liver transplant

The 28-year-old said: "He had an MRI scan on Friday that showed significant brain damage that they classed as cerebral palsy. It's where there has been a lack of oxygen to the brain and, at some point, he's had a few strokes, probably when he's been under sedation.

"However, he's not doing anything to suggest he has brain damage. He's looking around and responding to us all. He's off a ventilator and is doing really well.

"He's still in intensive care, but we are quite happy with how he is doing at the moment. It's been the best he's been since the beginning. The scans look bad, but they are also going on how he's presenting."

Jessica said it was 'devastating' to hear the news. She said: "We thought Connor was born a very well baby, so to be told about his liver and then this, it's soul destroying. But the way he's been over the past few days has made us positive.

"We'll just love him like we did, nothing will change. No matter what they say, he's still our little boy.

"He's having daily physio at Birmingham Children's Hospital. But when we get home, it will be a bit more intensive to make sure he's the best he can be. We don't know when that will be yet.

"We just want to say a big thank you to everyone who supports us. When you're stuck in Birmingham, away from everything, the support gets you through it."

Read more: Teacher faces losing job after assaulting pupil

Shani McDonagh, Connor's grandmother, said it was 'unbelievable' to hear that Connor had cerebral palsy.

The 50-year-old discharge facilitator, from Meir, said: "I still can't quite believe it. It was a bombshell.

"He's not presenting that way at all. The team were as shocked and surprised as we were. They're saying his eyesight will be affected, as well as his limbs, and his walking. But we are going to fight that all of the way."

Shani said that Connor's new liver is doing 'amazingly well' and took a moment to thank people for their ongoing support.

"As we speak, he's moving his limbs and looking at us so we are optimistic," she added. "His liver is doing amazingly well, but his blood pressure keeps dropping, which is the thing that's keeping him in intensive care.

"It's lovely that everybody in Stoke-on-Trent has been supportive and we can't criticise any of the care he's had."

Read more: 'Filthy' Milton oatcake shop opened for business - despite being ordered to close

Excerpt from:

Baby Connor McCue diagnosed with cerebral palsy - months after successful liver transplant - Stoke Sentinel