Logan newborn Cole Greyson Cook fights for his life, battling Hydrops
Two young Queensland parents are holding a bedside vigil after their newborn son was given just a 50 per cent chance of survival. WARNING: GRAPHIC
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At just 10 days old, baby Cole Cook is in the fight of his life.
On May 10, 2022, Logan parents Georgia Merucci, a 22-year-old disability support worker, and Jackson Cook, a 24-year-old fitter and turner, welcomed their beautiful baby boy Cole Greyson Cook into the world.
Ms Merucci said at just 34 weeks the pair was told the devastating news of their unborn son’s deteriorating medical condition.
On May 7, the parents were devastated to learn baby Cole had fluid build-up on his chest and under his skin. He was diagnosed with Hydrops, fluid build-up in unborn baby’s organs, and Ms Merucci was immediately admitted to hospital.
According to data from 2018, one out of 1000 unborn babies are diagnosed with Hydrops. There is less than a 50 per cent survival rate, if the baby survives birth.
Three days after the harrowing news Ms Merucci had an emergency caesarean.
“There was never any questions about it,” Ms Merucci said.
“We would do anything to save him…in those moments I didn’t care about myself or my health I just wanted baby Cole to survive.”
When the doctors lifted newborn baby Cole, Ms Merucci said she thought he hadn’t made it.
“I didn’t get to hold him,” she said.
“He looked so purple and they took him away so I thought he was dead and it broke me.”
The doctors, accompanied by Mr Cook who cut the umbilical cord, put baby Cole on a ventilator right away to ensure his survival.
“They had to stabilise him first,” Mr Cook said.
Through tears, Ms Merucci shared what it felt like to hold her baby’s hand for the first time.
“I’ll never forget holding his tiny hand for the first time,” she said.
“We both couldn’t stop crying.
“It was amazing and emotional and I was just so grateful he was alive.”
Since then baby Cole has spent every day in hospital, heavily sedated, and hooked up to a ventilator.
He has already undergone two surgeries because of a hole in his stomach, and parts of his bowels, intestines, and appendix have died from lack of blood circulation.
“He’s in a stable but serious condition,” Mr Cook explained.
“The doctors can’t tell us if he’ll survive. We’re just taking it day by day.
“Not knowing is so hard but we’re also incredibly grateful to even have this time with him.”
Baby Cole, who hasn’t even opened his eyes yet, is set to have another surgery in two weeks if he survives.
“We just know he’s a fighter,” Ms Merucci said.
“It’s hard because it’s kind of like we haven’t gotten to meet him yet…he’s been so heavily sedated. He hasn’t even cried yet.
“The only interaction we get is when he squeezes our fingers or makes a funny face at the nurses when he’s in pain.
“It’s those tiny moments with him that most parents wouldn’t even notice that mean the most to us…we love him so much.”
A close friend of the parents, Courtnee Tucker, has started a GoFundMe page to help them financially since Mr Cook has had to take leave without pay.
The family has been inundated with support from friends and family — in just three days over $9000 has been raised, with one person commenting: “If he is anything like his Mumma he has got this”.
“We feel so loved and supported and are so thankful,” Mr Cook said.
“I wouldn’t be able to have spent the last ten days with Cole if it wasn’t for that.
“We’re playing it day by day but I think you just have to hope and we have hope me will make it.”
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Originally published as Logan newborn Cole Greyson Cook fights for his life, battling Hydrops
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