Skyla Goodyer

Skyla's Story...

At 20 weeks gestation me and Tom (Skyla's dad) went for our scan excited about finding out the
sex of our first baby, only to find that Skyla had a mild case of ventriculomegaly (spelt wrong I
expect), this scared us so much but there was worse to come. We were referred from worthing hospital
to Kings College in London (a place we were to visit weekly from then) on the second scan there the
ventriculomegaly had become less of a problem but a new much worse problem was found. Skyla had a
congenital diaphramatic hernia which is when the diaphram has a hole in it which allows the stomach,
lungs and liver into the chest. This was restricting the growth of her lungs. So the first thing we
had to find out was whether she had any abnormalites she didn't this was a relief and Jacque
Jani told us that if she had any abnormalities there would not any chance for her and they would not
be able to do anything about her lungs. This was difficult to hear but at least he was honest. We
could always rely on Jacque to be honest. He performed the mini op through me which involved putting
Skyla to sleep and inserting a balloon into her trachea so that the fluid her lungs produced could
not escape. This was to expand her lungs. Everything was improving and her chances were moving up
from 50%. We were so optimistic.
At 30 weeks gestation my midwife found too much protein in my urine and I went to Worthing hospital,
I had developed severe pre-eclampsia. Midwives and doctors tried to transfer me out saying they
didn't want me to deliver there because Skyla's balloon had not be removed and they
didn't have the facilities to deal with her cdhernia. But she was on the heart monitor her
heart rate decreased several times and this ment that I had to have an emergency c-section. We were
all scared our faith lied in Dr Jani. A consultant from Brighton was called over he was the one that
would puncture the balloon when she arrived. This was all a success and she was born on the 21/12/07
late evening and taken to the special care baby unit in Worthing whilst they tried to find somewhere
to transfer her to. They got hold of GOSH and a few hours later the team came and after bringing her
to see me she was taken to GOSH. Tom followed up on the first train in the morning, we needed
someone with her.
She was doing really well, opening her eyes for her daddy whilst he read the football scores to her
(determined that she would follow Chelsea lol) and the Tv paper to pass the time. He barely left her
side. Her operation was on Christmas eve to close the hole in her diaphram, during it she went into
cardiac arrest but she fought, me and Tom believe she wasn't ready to go yet she was waiting
for her mummy to get there, so the 3 of us could be together.
After the operation her condition was never stable, if the oxygen she needed went down, the drugs
she needed went up, the balance could not be found. But we still didn't even have in our minds
that she wouldn't make it after all she had been through. She then needed more drugs and
another line into her body. When this was done as her body was so small they punctured her lung. She
fought for 30 mins but she just couldnt hold on anymore, she died on the 28/12/07 She had fought
enough. Me and Tom spent hours saying goodbye and washing and bathing her. But then I knew it was
time to leave we had to go then we had to let her be in peace.

Christmas will never be the same for us or our family any more, it's now Skyla's time of
year we will think of her then more than we do everyday. From the words from her daddy's speech
"Good night, god bless" we will always love you angel xx

Please light a candle for Skyla and also if you can, donate to GOSHCC as we have them to thank for
her week of life and want to help them save more lives.

Thank you for taking the time to read Skyla's story