12 hour paddle on Lough Melvin for Sligo University Hospital Fetal Assessment Unit

Bryan Fennell is in training to canoe for 12 hours on Lough Melvin on Sunday, March 19 - the Spring Equinox.
Bryan lives with his wife and three children on the Donegal/ Leitrim border.
He is the Rural Recreational Officer for Leitrim Development Company and Chairperson of the North West Canoe Club in Kinlough.
Although Bryan loves being out on his canoe he has never spent 12 hours paddling and so is in training for this challenging fundraiser.

Bryan explained to the Leitrim Observer that he wanted to do something to give back to the staff of Sligo University Hospital's Foetal Assessment Unit who helped him and his wife through a “tough 12 weeks” last year.
Bryan told the paper that in early 2022 when his wife was 25 weeks pregnant, “we were informed that we may never meet our unborn son due to extremely low fluid present around the infant, and that this was most likely the end of the pregnancy.”
He said they were told that there had been no growth in the baby's size for almost three weeks and no indication that the baby's condition would improve.
They were informed it was “the end of the road” and that there was “no hope.”
What followed this news was an almost daily visit to the Foetal Assessment Unit in Sligo University Hospital to check on baby to confirm a heartbeat and note weight gain/loss.

“We were completely lost as a family, not knowing if the person my wife could feel moving inside her would ever get a chance to experience life.
“Each check resulted in a tiny hope that things would be alright, growing each day,” Bryan recalled.
Bryan said it was a very tough time, as they were almost preparing for bad news every day.
He said they have two older children and they were both a “healthy distraction” during this time.
Bryan recalls that he and his partner were treated wonderfully during this time and his wife was given such care and attention by the nurses and staff for each visit.

Thankfully, after a couple of weeks, the baby started to grow again, and the fluid began to increase.
“After week 30, our hopes grew ever stronger. By week 34, we were informed that the baby would be delivered on week 37, no matter what his condition would be. Those 12 weeks felt like eternity for us as we lived in hope.”
On March 28, 2022 Barra was born at a tiny size of 4lb 4oz.
Bryan described how the little boy was so small he could hold him between the crook of his elbow and his hand!
Despite his small size, he was a perfectly formed healthy baby.

He was kept in NICU for two weeks while he gained weight but he has had no long lasting issues to date, and “is now a busy floor crawler around our home, playing with his big brother and sister at every opportunity.”
Barra was named after the storm that hit Ireland at the time and his undeniable strength.
“He fought against all the odds,” Bryan commented.
Bryan said they didn't really get an answer as to why the fluid reduced and then increased again but there had been a small issue with the placenta tube.

“The care our family received by Sligo Hospital Staff during this incredibly challenging time was truly something special, but more so, the team in the Foetal Assessment Unit got us through our darkest moments. They helped us keep the hope alive while still comforting us through the difficult knowledge of knowing that success was extremely unlikely,” Bryan said.
He said they are all still coming to terms with the fact that Barra is here and perfectly healthy despite all the worry.
In an effort to raise funds for this great unit, Bryan will paddle for 12 hours during the spring equinox around Lough Melvin Lake. This challenge will see him paddling from Sunrise to Sunset, representing “the 12 weeks of difficult times we faced as a family”.

The fundraising cause paddle4hope has already received over €1,900 and thee are hopes to increase that figure.
You can add your donation at www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/Paddle4Hope