Lisa McHugh has said her newborn daughter Hallie Marie has had “the toughest and most heartbreaking few days in hospital” after contracting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
RSV is a common virus that causes coughs and colds. It is the main cause of infant bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
According to the HSE, many children get RSV by the time they are two years old. It usually spreads in winter and early spring.
The 36-year old country singer shared the news with her 82,000 Instagram followers on Monday in a post that read: “I can’t describe how horrendous it has been to watch her so weak & in so much pain and being unable to take that pain away.
“She is still very sick in hospital but she’s getting amazing care from the nurses and doctors in SWAH. We just hope she starts to get some relief and turns a corner soon”.
Lisa McHugh with her baby daughter. Photo: Facebook
The mother-of-two said she decided to open up about this struggle on World Premature Day, because her youngest is a premature baby.
She also chose to raise awareness to encourage young parents to “speak up and protect their babies in future if they’re ever in the position instead of protecting someone else’s feelings”.
“For anyone that’s feeling or has felt the same as I did, please don’t, you have every right to speak up to protect your baby from illness. Do whatever you can because I really wouldn’t wish it on any baby, child or parent to go through after how rough the last few days have been”, she wrote.
McHugh admitted to having avoided situations that she was not comfortable bringing her first-born Milo into and to have at times felt like she was “overreacting” or being “paranoid” about his well-being.
“I don’t want to have my child around people who ‘just have a sniffle or head cold’ or who are ‘over the worst of it’ because it definitely won’t be that way for a baby,” she wrote.
“They can’t speak up for or protect themselves, it’s our job as their parents to do it for them.
“Keep our angel in your prayers, she’s a little fighter as she’s shown us before but they all help and are all appreciated.”
Following the announcement, messages of solidarity flooded into social media with one concerned user saying: “Oh my God, poor Hallie. My biggest fear for our newborn! I’m sending love and prayers that Hallie will be ok.”
“Wishing your beautiful little girl a speedy recovery,” another said.