Baby given less than a 1% chance of survival returns home with her mother

Fionnuala McArdle was just 23 weeks pregnant when her daughter was born on October 9 last year. Her baby weighed just over a pound (480g) and doctors at the Royal Maternity Hospital’s neonatal unit gave her between a zero and one per cent chance of surviving. Fionnula’s daughter was also born with pneumonia and surrounded by toxic fluids.

Fionnuala named her daughter Meabh, which is an Irish name meaning the cause of great joy. Appropriately enough, Meabh’s name is thought to originate from the great warrior queen Mabh of Connacht.

True fighter

Little Meabh has certainly proven herself to be a true fighter over the past five months, as she’s gone through four operations, including a major heart operation and two on her eyes.

But with the help of medics, she’s pulled through – and has now been discharged from hospital to return home with her mother.

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