The Standard, 9th January 2014
3
The Standard
Mum puts brush with
death during birth of
twins behind her
By Jamie Nield-Siddall
[email protected]
A TEACHER who nearly died
giving birth to twin girls says she
now feels she has been given a
second chance.
Angela Cottam, a teacher at Sealand
Primary School, suffered an amniotic
fluid embolism – a rare but lifethreatening pregnancy complication –
before giving birth to daughters Amelie
and Ava 19 months ago.
Mrs Cottam, 33, who also has a fiveyear-old daughter, Olivia, lost seven pints
of blood, needed 22 transfusions and
spent hours in a coma after a suspected
fingernail or hair from one of the babies
passed into her bloodstream.
The cells from the unborn children,
travelled to her lungs, which began to
collapse and she also suffered severe
internal bleeding.
During the terrifying ordeal her family
was told she might not survive.
She has now done her best to put the
life-threatening experience behind her,
having made a full recovery and returned
to work.
“I’m back to normal. I haven’t got time
to stop and dwell on what happened,”
said Mrs Cottam, of Meadow Croft,
Higher Kinnerton
But she added: “I do think about the
birth experience every day.
“I can think about it just for a minute –
but enjoy everything just that bit more
now. I don’t let things bother me as much
as they used to.
“I am relaxed a bit more. When
something like that happens it puts things
into perspective.”
She added: “My family always comes
first. My husband, Peter, has been really
supportive. We are a close family.”
Later this month Mrs Cottam will travel
to London to meet up with a group of
women from across the country who have
all suffered with the same condition
during pregnancy, where fluid from the
sac surrounding the babies leaks into the
mother’s bloodstream through blood
vessels in the womb.
Mrs Cottam’s babies, who were born five
weeks premature, were not breathing
when they were delivered by emergency
■ Half marathon runners Vincenzo Safina and Carl
Dennis.
Half marathon runners
raise £800 for appeal
A TOTAL of £800 was handed
over to the Babygrow Appeal
team by Vincenzo Safina and
Carl Dennis, from Vauxhall,
who ran in the Chester
Marathon in October.
Community fundraiser
Kathy Kenney was delighted
to receive this generous
donation. She has been
pleased to hear from dozens
of runners who are taking
■ Angela Cottam with twins Amelie
and Ava (above) and (left) husband
Peter and the couple’s eldest
daughter, Olivia, five.
caesarean. Thankfully both were
resuscitated and are now living a healthy,
happy life.
Mrs Cottam said since suffering with the
condition she had gained friends from all
over the world by speaking to women
online, who have suffered the same
condition during pregnancy.
She has taken part in various
fundraising events and said her aim for
2014 is to raise money for the Countess of
Chester Hospital’s Baby Grow Appeal.
Staff Profile Chris Booth, neonatal practitioner
CHRIS says: “I have been
working on the unit for
almost 21 years constantly
surrounded by women.
“I am the only male
nurse on the unit so I am
spoiled rotten.
“I enjoy most elements of
my role but especially the
intensive care aspect.
“I like to feel I make a
difference and it is
wonderful to see the
children come back to visit
us on the unit.
I am looking forward to
working in the new unit
when it is built and being
part of the team that not
only strives to improve
practice, but to push the
boundaries of neonatal
care into the next
generation.
“I will look forward to the
improvement in the
facilities on the unit for the
baby, family and staff with
the comfort of air
conditioning and
appropriate staff facilities.
“I really hope it will be
sooner rather than later,
and am grateful to the
local community for all the
generous donations they
have made in the first 12
months of the Babygrow
Appeal.”
She says the hospital not only saved her
life but also those of her twins.
The appeal has a target of £3million to
build a brand new neonatal unit, which
will be more than double the size of the
current unit, providing improved facilities
and a more spacious environment for the
babies and their families.
Mrs Cottam reserved special praise for
staff at the hospital, saying: “They noticed
my condition rapidly and saved my life”.
Daughter helps to remember
father with appeal donation
CHESTER resident Jane Edgar
paid a visit to the Countess
fundraising office with a £300
donation in memory of her
father, Wayne Challinor, who
died on December 7.
The money was from Mr
Challinor’s funeral collection.
Jane told community
fundraiser Angie Lopez: “As his
family, we decided to donate the
proceeds from dad’s funeral
collection to the Babygrow
Appeal.
“We have friends whose
children have been extremely
well looked after within the
Special Care Baby Unit.
“With dad having received
excellent care and attention from
the Countess of Chester
Hospital, we decided to give
them something back to show
our appreciation.
I would like to extend my
thanks to everybody who
attended the funeral and for
their generous donations as
well.”
Wayne was a football referee
and was also involved with 8th
Chester Scout group in
Chester District for many years.
Jane added: “Dad was also a
member of Chester Male Voice
Choir, who sang beautifully at
his funeral.
“I know he would be very
happy we have supported such a
worthy cause.”
part in the Chester Half
Marathon in May who have
pledged to support the appeal
by raising sponsorship.
Anyone who has a place but
has not yet decided on a
charity to support should call
Kathy on 01244 366672.
She will provide a Babygrow
T-shirt for training and help
support fundraising efforts if
required.