Four-day-old baby needs ventilator to live

Anique Whyte is hoping her four-day-old baby will be given a ventilator before it is too late. Her baby, Jaekelia Brooks, who she calls 'Faith', was born at the Annotto Bay Hospital at 9:20 Monday morning.

However, when she was admitted for her delivery, she knew something was amiss when doctors told her the newborn had weight issues.

Nothing could have prepared her to hear that Jaekelia was born weighing four pounds and was experiencing difficulty breathing on her own.

She has not been able to hold her newborn since Monday, as the baby was placed in an incubator to help with her breathing.

But she said Jaekelia is not getting sufficient oxygen necessary for breathing and would need a ventilator.

"It is heartbreaking. I cry every time I visit her and, every time I'm leaving, the tears just come faster because I am not used to leaving my kids behind. So having to leave this baby behind breaks me to the lowest level," she shared.

The 32-year-old mother of two daughters, ages six and three, said the latest pregnancy was difficult given that she previously had five miscarriages.

"This baby is very precious to us. I am hoping for the best," Whyte told THE WEEKEND STAR.

Blood transfusion

She shared that doctors at the paediatric ward would be doing a blood transfusion procedure to help give Jaekelia more oxygen while they source a ventilator machine, which is not available at the hospital.

THE WEEKEND STAR contacted the North East Regional Health Authority which oversees the operations of the hospital. Through a statement, officials said they were actively seeking assistance for baby Jaekelia.

"The Annotto Bay Hospital is a Type-C facility and, from time to time, will transfer patients that need specialised medical care. However in this case, we have been trying to transfer the patient to a specialised facility that is able to provide the care needed," the statement read.

The authority also stated it will be constructing a neonatal nursery that will be fully equipped with ventilators to accommodate patients in need of respiratory support.