Miracle baby Ella beats all the odds
Adrianne Lillis from Myshall, Co Carlow, was told she may never have a child after being born with congenital heart disease.
However, she and husband Mark have been celebrating after the birth of their daughter, Ella, on December 23 in Dublin's Mater Hospital.
Ella was one of only three babies born in the Mater last year and just weeks after her birth, 27-year-old Ms Lillis underwent her fourth heart surgery.
The moment was such a celebration that a professional photographer was hired by the hospital to record the birth.
Speaking about Ella's birth, Ms Lillis who married in 2010, explained that she had 30 people in the delivery room with her.
"Because of my heart condition she was born in the Mater, she was just the third baby born that year because they don't do deliveries... there was even a professional photographer."
Ms Lillis also spent another five days in hospital shortly after Ella was born because there was fluid in her legs. She then returned home for a few days before going back to hospital for heart surgery.
Her husband and her family have rallied around her.
"Mark is coping well, he's doing really good and Ella is very good, too," said Ms Lillis.
Happily, the new mum says she now feels well after her fourth heart surgery and passed on her thanks to the staff in the Mater for their support.
- Mairead Wilmot
Irish Independent
