Cork mum: We nearly lost Nickey three times, he’s our little warrior

WHEN Cork woman Nicola Higgins was pregnant with her seventh child, she had no reason to believe that this birth would be very different.

However, Nicola, originally from Aghada, was told when her son Nickey was born that he needed life-saving surgery - and after that was carried out, to prepare for the worst.

But Nickey Flood is a fighter.

“When we were told to take him home for palliative care after he went through an unsuccessful heart procedure in Crumlin Children’s Hospital, Dublin, I knew that wasn’t going to happen,” says Nicola, who lives in Kildare with her partner Nicholas.

She remembers that day very well.

“It was a Sunday, and I was on my own. Nickey was in a baby’s room in the hospital. It is very rare for a consultant to be on duty on a Sunday. Professor Walsh came to me and told me that Nickey had three weeks to live and to bring him home for palliative care.

I broke down. But I knew Nickey had a lot of fight in him. Since he was born, we’ve called him our little warrior. He has overcome everything including pulmonary vein stenosis.

“I always tell people, trust in him. Go by Nickey. He will show us all what he can do.”

Now aged nine months, Nicola hopes Nickey can travel to Birmingham for a double lung transplant.

A fund-raising 1980s night is being held in the Midleton Park Hotel in mid-April to raise funds so the little warrior can travel to the UK for his life-saving operation.

“Nickey was a lovely surprise,” says Nicola, who is forever grateful to her two eldest children, Courtney, 20, and Killian, 19, who gave up their full-time jobs to help look after their brother.

“Nicholas did the same,” Nicola add. “He was manager of a security firm but gave up work to devote more time to the care of Nickey.”

The close-knit family had been looking forward to Nickey’s arrival.

“All was good until I had a 20-week scan,” says Nicola, whose mother Anne O’Keeffe, lives in Aghada.

“The stenographer discovered that Nickey had a cleft lip and cleft palate, and she sent me for a bigger, 4D scan, to rule out Edwards’ Syndrome or Pat’s syndrome.”

A baby with Edwards’ syndrome has three copies of chromosome number 18 instead of two. This affects the way the baby grows and develops.

Pat’s syndrome is the most common form of tachycardia in infants and children. In most cases, the condition isn’t life-threatening, but it can be uncomfortable.

“Nickey was also tested for Down Syndrome, and he was negative, although he tested positive post-birth,” says Nicola. 

I was in hospital since the second week of April. There was reduced movement in the womb and there was a very low blood flow going to Nickey. I knew he would be born early.

Nicola introduces me to her baby. 

“Nickey was born by an emergency C-section in the Coombe Hospital on May 3 last year, weighing in at 985 grams.”

That’s less than a bag of sugar?

“That’s right,” says Nicola. “He was so tiny. He’d fit into the palm of your hand.”

He was so loved, but had a tough start to life.

“Our baby boy was intubated for the first six days due to pulmonary hypertension, high blood pressure in his lungs caused by chronic lung disease. On day seven he was extubated but unfortunately, he came into contact with Covid-19, and he spent three weeks in isolation on high-flow oxygen,” says Nickey.

“We were very lucky as we could have lost him due to his pulmonary hypertension before he was discharged to Crumlin Hospital. There, he was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and is on long-term medication for it. When genetic testing was carried out on Nickey, he came back positive for T21 (Down Syndrome).”

How did Nicola feel about that?

“I thought all my Christmases came together,” says Nicola. 

I was happy with the diagnosis as it could have been much worse.

Her baby son is a survivor.

“Three times we nearly lost him,” says Nicola. “He also has a hole in his heart - ASD, which affects two chambers of his heart down the middle.”

Nickey has been through the mill and has come out the other side.

“For him, getting Covid was the worst. He overcame it and began to thrive.”

Nickey was surrounded by love.

“When he was in hospital, I used to sit up and watch him sleep,” says Nicola. “I was always hoping and praying. I kept it from the others just how sick Nickey was, especially when he had aspiration pneumonia.

“He was a very sick baby. It was always a matter of life or death.

“Nickey was also diagnosed with metopic synostosis in Temple Street Hospital, and he also underwent surgery to get a peg fitted for his feeding needs. He is awaiting a surgery date for his cleft lip and palate.”

Nickey is on the up-and-up. He is back home with his parents together with his loving brothers and sisters.

“He loves his play,” says Nicola. “He loves his cuddles; and he loves company. He takes notice when one of us walks into the room and he loves being spoon fed his ‘tasters’. He is on low-flow oxygen.”

After a successful double-lung transplant in Birmingham, Nickey’s quality of life will improve.

“We’ll do whatever we can to give Nickey the best chance to live and the best quality of life,” says Nicola.

“All our family and friends are rallying around.”

Old friends are best.

“I knew Mark O’Sullivan growing up in East Cork,” says Nicola. “He jumped on board straight away.”

Mark, aka Fanta, is well-known in the east Cork area for his fundraising work with Down Syndrome Ireland and other charities.

“I know Nicola and her family a long time,” says Mark. “We met up and when they told me about Nickey and the need for the double-lung operation in Birmingham, I got to work straight away.”

He knew where to go.

“Midleton Park Hotel is always very accommodating for these charity events, discos, ’80s nights, and tribute nights, and they give the function room to us for free.”

Like Mark, lots of people are getting on board to support Nickey’s quest for a double lung transplant and a better quality of life.

“The people of Midleton are well known for getting behind people in need and for supporting charity events,” says Mark. “We are expecting a big crowd in April. Tickets are on sale in the Midleton Park Hotel for €20.”

Nickey’s brothers and sisters, Courtney, 20, Killian, 19, Caoimhe, 18, Kelsie, 16 and Dillon, 4, are all there for their brave brother.

“Nickey is our little warrior,” says Nicola. “He overcame everything.”

The 1980s night at Midleton Park Hotel for Baby Nickey is on in April. Over 23s. €20 per ticket and a half price auction. Spot prizes on the night. See Gofundme link: 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/our-little-warrior-nickey