Haylee Jade Camm fights for life in Brisbane Children’s Hospital intensive care unit

The parents of a twin baby clinging to life are doing what they can to cherish every moment, including spending Christmas and even having a wedding by her intensive care crib.

Haylee Jade Camm was flown to the Brisbane Children’s Hospital at 16 days old where she has been fighting bravely for nearly three months.

A Maryborough couple is facing an impossible decision no parent should ever have to make while their baby girl fights for life at the Queensland Children’s Hospital.

Their 15-week-old identical twin daughter Haylee Jade Camm is in intensive care at Brisbane Children’s Hospital on a ventilator and about to have a tracheotomy.

The family want to make as many memories as they can with their daughter in the time she has left.

“She’s definitely a fighter and a tough cookie,” mum Ashleigh Ferguson said.

When Haylee was 16 days old, Ms Ferguson knew something was not right when her baby became cold the touch, lethargic and had refused a bottle for the second time that day.

Haylee was rushed to Hervey Bay Hospital where her breathing became erratic and she suffered from hypothermia and hypoglycaemia.

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She was intubated on a ventilator and flown to Brisbane Children's Hospital with her father Leonard Camm, while Ms Ferguson stayed in Maryborough with their other children.

Haylee Jade Camm has been in the ICU at Brisbane Children’s Hospital for nearly three months.

Two days later, Haylee’s twin Hannah Joy was showing the same symptoms and was rushed to the children’s hospital.

The twins were diagnosed with sepsis and meningitis.

Ms Ferguson said the infection was an enterovirus, and they could not pinpoint what caused it.

The sisters fought bravely together in Brisbane Children’s Hospital where Hannah stayed for 27 days before returning home.

But for the past three months Haylee has remained in intensive care where she has undergone blood transfusions and four attempts have been made to remove her breathing tube.

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After the last attempt, it was clear Haylee needed to rely on the ventilator to live.

“Haylee won’t succumb to her injuries, we have to make the decision when the time is right … nothing a parent wants to do,” Ms Ferguson said.

Hannah Joy Camm and Haylee Jade Camm are identical twins.

A scan revealed Haylee had suffered a stroke and hypoxia brain injury – a lack of oxygen to the brain – which affects her brain stem in two vital areas, one which affects the heart rate and the other her breathing.

She is undergoing a tracheotomy for comfort.

“We don’t want to give up on our baby girl, we want to make sure we’ve exhausted all avenues before having to go and make that choice to turn off her ventilator and let her go,” she said.

To treasure the time they have left with Haylee, Ms Ferguson said they started a “mini bucket list” which includes her and Leonard getting married in the hospital’s ICU on November 22.

“It’s the first wedding at the children’s hospital apparently,” Ms Ferguson said.

“We are also hoping to get the girl’s first Christmas in as well at ICU.”

Hannah Joy Camm and Haylee Jade Camm were diagnosed with sepsis and meningitis when they were about two weeks old.

The family are seeing what coming weeks bring, but may be faced with the heartbreaking decision to let their daughter go.

“We’ve fought with her,” she said.

If a “miracle” happens and Haylee is able to come home, Ms Ferguson said they would have to move to Brisbane to be within a 40km radius of the hospital.

Leonard Camm and Ashleigh Ferguson.

The family, originally from Melbourne, started a GoFundMe to help raise funds to continue Haylee’s journey, create memories and travel between Maryborough to Brisbane.

Ms Ferguson has already used her savings and taken out loans to manage expenses so far.

“We’re not the type of people to reach out and ask for help … but given the circumstances we really don’t have an option,” she said.

She said when the time was right they wanted to raise awareness about brain research and donate to the children’s hospital and Ronald McDonald House.

“We really have no idea how much time we have with Haylee and would like to make as many memories as possible for us as parents, for her siblings and identical twin sister to look back on,” Ms Ferguson wrote on the GoFundMe.

Maryborough’s Little Monkeys Play Centre is also holding a fundraiser this weekend, donating entry fees to the family’s cause.

You can support the family’s GoFundMe here: https://GoFundMe/e2401557