Parents’ grief as tiny Katie loses her fight for life (From This Is Lancashire)

Parents’ grief as tiny Katie loses her fight for life

7:48am Wednesday 2nd December 2009 in

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THE heartbroken parents of a premature baby girl born in the back of a taxi, spoke last night of their pain as she lost her fight for life.

Tiny Katie Hilton arrived nearly three months early and was delivered by her father, Malcolm Hilton, on the way to Salford Royal Hospital on Sunday, November 15.

She was doing well, with doctors saying she could be at the family’s Little Hulton home for Christmas, when her condition deteriorated at the weekend.

Katie died in the early hours of Monday.

Her mother, Kelly Sheerin, aged 24, said: “She was fine — then this. The time we had with her was the best time ever. She was the best little girl.

“She would lie there with her eyes open then in your arms she would be asleep.

“We just do not know what happened. She should have been home for Christmas.”

Mr Hilton said: “When I left her the night it happened, she was all right. It’s just awful — I can’t explain it.

“The hospital said she could come out at maybe 30 or 32 weeks the way she was going.”

The couple’s baby girl was not due until February 7, but in the early hours of November 15 Miss Sheerin started to get pains.

By 6am, she realised she was in labour and Mr Hilton called a taxi from Swinton-based Radio Cars.

Driver Frank Lawless, aged 59, picked them up from their home in Baron Fold Crescent, along with their one-year-old son, Lucas.

He tried to take them via the East Lancashire Road but it was closed due to roadworks and they went on a longer route.

Katie arrived in Park Lane, Irlams o’th’ Height, at 7.20am, weighing 2lb 8oz.

Mr Hilton said: “Frank was trying his best to get us there but she arrived in my hands. I was holding Lucas on one side and Katie on the other. It was a surprise.

Miss Sheerin said: “It was a big shock and I just kept saying sorry to the driver.”

Mr Lawless, who lives just a street away from the family, took them to Salford Royal Hospital, where Katie was rushed into neonatal intensive care.

She was placed in an incubator and given help with her breathing. Miss Sheerin was kept in over night.

After eight days in hospital, Katie was only on low-level oxygen, with some fluctuations in her heart rate, but doctors were pleased with her progress.

She took a turn for the worse on Sunday evening and died just after midnight.

A post-mortem examination will take place this week and Katie’s parents are now deciding whether to hold her funeral before or after Christmas.

cherry.thomas@ theboltonnews.co.uk