"He was our little fighter" – parents of baby Cormac who died after eating milk

The parents of a little boy paid tribute to their "little fighter" who had offered them "so much hope" during his short life.

The baby Cormac Lafferty was born prematurely with conbad heart disease and his surgical progress was termed "miraculous".

Dr. Myra Cullinane, Coroner, gave a narrative verdict in an investigation into the child's death.

After the inquest at the Dublin Coroner's Court, parents Ann-Marie and Paul Lafferty said that Cormac, who died at the age of three months, constantly surprised him in his short life.

"He beat all the targets. He was a real fighter. He returned to Donegal with us and he was in full swing, "said Paul Lafferty.

Ann-Marie Lafferty was staying in the parents' quarters next to Notre-Dame de Crumlin Hospital with Callum, Cormac's twin, when she was called into the common room. Her son was in critical condition and she said the call was "arrived too late".

"It hurts, I was nearby, I should have been informed that my child was sick," she said.

"Cormac was only three months old when he died on September 10, 2016. He will be sorely missed by everyone," said Lafferty.

The couple, from Castlefin, near Lifford, County Donegal, was congratulated by Professor Colin McMahon, consulting cardiologist for the "exceptional" care that he brought to baby Cormac.

"They did everything they could for him during his short life," said Professor McMahon.

On June 13, 2016, Baby Cormac was born with a conbad heart defect weighing 1.6 kg at 36 weeks of gestation. He defied expectations by gaining enough weight to undergo life-saving surgery. The doctors placed a shunt to direct the blood from his heart to his lungs. Dr. Damien Kenny, a pediatric cardiologist, described Cormac's survival as "miraculous".

The infant was sent home to Donegal and was reintegrated at the hospital on 6 September. He was admitted due to oxygen saturation problems. On September 10, at the beginning of her life, baby Cormac became unstable after a meal. An emergency team trying to ventilate the milk sucked by its airways. His mother was called to the room at 6:40. The baby was ventilated successfully at a third attempt at 6:54, but suffered a cardiac arrest at 7:07. He was pronounced dead less than an hour later.

The cause of death was acute cardiorespiratory arrest due to pulmonary hemorrhage in a child with tetralogy of Fallot. Bronchiolitis and the final aspiration of foods were contributing factors.

Advocates Alan Keating, mandated by Callan Tansey, said the family was concerned about the loss of data from an oxygen saturation monitor following the death of Cormac.

Coroner Dr. Myra Cullinane gave a narrative verdict and indicated that she would contact the hospital for data retention.

After the survey, the Lafferty said hospitals could do more to preserve digital data.

"We do not think we have all the answers we were looking for. We believe that more needs to be done to ensure the preservation of digital records and witness statements prior to departure, particularly when a coroner's inquest may be held. "

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