A grieving mother from Victoria, Australia, has revealed how her first child died due to undiagnosed severe preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy condition, and now her second baby is fighting for his life in hospital. Kirsten Radford and her husband Daniel lost their son Alexander just five days after his birth in 2023 after the condition went unnoticed during her pregnancy.
Preeclampsia, which can be life-threatening if untreated, is characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. While these signs are often detected during routine antenatal checkups, Kirsten claims her condition was completely missed during her first pregnancy. “Last time it wasn’t monitored at all, and we had a lot of issues. That’s why my first son died,” Kirsten told the Mail.
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Determined to avoid a repeat tragedy, Kirsten and Daniel took extra precautions during her second pregnancy. From 12 weeks, Kirsten was placed on blood pressure medication and closely monitored. “It’s definitely the reason he’s [Harrison] got through to this point,” she said.
Despite careful monitoring, Kirsten was hospitalized at 24 weeks due to placenta abnormalities and severe preeclampsia. Harrison was delivered via emergency C-section at a Melbourne neonatal unit on December 30, where he has remained ever since. The premature birth has left Harrison with a chronic lung condition, requiring costly home modifications and ongoing specialist care for at least the first two years of his life.
Kirsten shared on a GoFundMe page that Harrison will also need surgery for a hernia in six weeks and will require neurological monitoring due to being born 12 weeks early. “During Harrison’s stay, he has developed a chronic lung condition, which means we have had to make some structural costly changes at home,” she wrote.
Preeclampsia, which affects the placenta, can only be cured by delivering the baby. The NHS states that women diagnosed with the condition are typically monitored closely in hospital, with delivery often induced or performed via C-section around 37 to 38 weeks, or earlier in severe cases.
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Kirsten’s heartbreaking story highlights the importance of early detection and monitoring of preeclampsia. “We were told if we had a pregnancy again, there would be close monitoring and potential early delivery of our second child with a NICU stay,” she wrote.
The Radford family is now focused on Harrison’s recovery while grappling with the emotional and financial toll of their ordeal. Kirsten’s GoFundMe page aims to raise funds for Harrison’s medical expenses and ongoing care, as the family continues to navigate the challenges of his premature birth and health complications.
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