Jaime and Peter Shurmer with Mikaylah.
Camera IconJaime and Peter Shurmer with Mikaylah. Credit: Supplied/Marcelo Palacios

Gift of blood saved my baby, says mum

Emma Young, Comment NewsEastern Reporter

Jaime and Peter Shurmer were nearing their third wedding anniversary in 2011 when the Comment News reporter, 23 weeks pregnant, was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia.

The condition increased her blood pressure, and limited baby Mikaylah’s blood supply. Over the next few weeks, Mrs Shurmer was hospitalised twice.

The second time, doctors told her to prepare for a caesarean section Mikaylah might only have a 50 per cent chance of surviving: but movement on an ultrasound won a last-minute reprieve.

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‘Every day you can keep her in makes a huge difference. That’s what we focused on,’ Mrs Shurmer said.

‘I got sicker and sicker, and had to lie on my left side constantly to improve blood flow to Mikaylah ‘