Little Charlie doing well after birth during pandemic

WHEN he grows up, little Charlie Donnelly from Beragh will no doubt be told about the special circumstances of his birth right in the middle of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

In the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic, Charlie, the first child of John and Elaine Donnelly, was born at 10.30pm on the evening of April 1 at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH). Everything went well, but the experience of his parents was far from what can normally be expected because of the restrictions currently in place.

Now a little over a week old, Charlie, is doing well at home and his father, John, says the whole experience was “quite surreal.”

“It was one of the happiest moments of my life to see Charlie come into the world and we’ll definitely tell him the story when the time comes about how he was born during the coronavirus pandemic,” he said.

“I left Elaine to the hospital last Tuesday and then had to leave. They then called on Wednesday to tell me that the birth was imminent and I was allowed in again at that stage.

“But almost as soon as Charlie was born, I had to go back home. Then when I was collecting him and Elaine on Friday the porter came out, brought in the baby seat and I met them at the door of the hospital.

“We were all masked in the delivery suite, and the hospital was a lot quieter than usual.”

Elaine described the experience as being “quite emotional” and praised the staff of the SWAH for their help and professionalism.

“The staff were absolutely fantastic, and every precaution was taken due to the coronavirus.

“I wasn’t allowed to walk out of the hospital room that I was in,” she said.

“It is all very strange and difficult because Charlie’s grandparents and the whole family haven’t been able to hold him yet. They come to the window and look in at him, but that’s it and we’re just looking forward to getting to celebrate in person soon.

“We are both so delighted to have Charlie home now.”

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