Ayr mum and daughter together thanks to donors

Jun 26 2009

YOU don’t have to go far to find people in urgent need of blood – just ask Ayr mum Sharleen Bell and her daughter Sophie.

The tot has just celebrated her third birthday after her life was saved by blood donors, who also helped save her doting mum.

Thirty-six weeks into her pregnancy, Sharleen suffered an amniotic embolism.

Suffering three heart attacks, deadly bodily fluids entered Sharleen’s body after her uterus erupted.

Life-saving surgery was needed to tackle constant haemorrhaging, with Sharleen receiving over 30 pints of blood – four times the amount a body holds.

Following the nightmare pregnancy, little Sophie underwent open heart-surgery at Yorkhill Hospital, Glasgow, in May to correct a serious heart condition – atrial septal defect (ASD).

Untreated ASD can lead to death through heart failure.

Sophie was connected to a transfusion machine with five pints of blood pumping throughout her body during her surgery.

And her mum is overjoyed to see her little girl make a good recovery.

She said: “She’s doing really well. You wouldn’t have thought she’d just undergone serious heart surgery.”

But Sharleen maintains the reason her family is still together is due to the donations of blood donors.

She explained: “It’s frightening when you hear of the sheer volume that’s needed. I’m really thankful.”

Sharleen’s husband Colin, has even overcome his phobia of needles to repay the kindness of those who kept his girls alive. Donating blood himself whenever possible, Colin’s goal is to re-donate the 35 pints given to his family.

Sharleen added: “Just remember, there is a real person to benefit.”