Elle Ayling had an uneventful second pregnancy, but when her baby Valley was born in April 2023, it was quickly evident there was something very wrong with her precious daughter.
“Our world stopped. She was born very, very sick and we didn’t know what was happening at the time,” Ms Ayling said.
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They were rushed from Geraldton, in WA’s Midwest, to Perth Children’s Hospital where they spent the next eight weeks, undergoing tests to work out what was wrong.
“At the time they recommended that she did have some blood products to just help,” she said.
“We were just so lucky to be at Perth Children’s Hospital and they had it on hand and she was able to get it straight away.”
Valley was diagnosed with a very rare condition called Carpenters Syndrome and an untreatable heart condition.
She died surrounded by her family in Geraldton at nine weeks old.
Valley passed away at nine weeks old. (Supplied: Family)
Ms Ayling said that after Valley passed away, she wanted to make an effort to donate blood herself.
“It’s super important, just to honour her because after you’ve lost a child it’s heartbreaking,” she said.
“But it’s so important, it can save up to three lives and there’s so many reasons why people need blood so any way I can help, I’m willing to.”
Geraldton’s blood donation clinic closed in 2012 but the first Australian Red Cross Lifeblood pop-up clinic was opened this week and all 200 appointments were booked out in days.
Friendship bond strengthened
Ms Ayling and her friend Lea Fowler arrived together to donate.
They were already friends when their paths crossed at Perth Children’s Hospital last year.
Elsie was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at three years old. (Supplied: Family)
Two years ago, Lea’s daughter Elsie was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia aged just three.
She spent 14 months in hospital in Perth after a frantic rush from the initial diagnosis in Geraldton.
Now five, Elsie still relies on blood products from donations.
“As soon as we were admitted to Geraldton Regional Hospital, she received two lots of red blood cells and then as soon as we arrived to Perth Children’s Hospital she received two platelet transfusions,” Ms Fowler said.
“With the chemo and what not, a lot of the children need transfusions through the treatment so she’s relied on that a lot through the past two years.”
Lea Fowler with her daughter Elsie now home in Geraldton. (ABC Midwest Wheatbelt: Natasha Harradine)
Elsie is back in Geraldton at school and participating in gymnastics and dancing while continuing her treatment locally, and with monthly trips to Perth.
“She’s a very energetic little girl, she takes it all very much in her stride,” Ms Fowler said.
Ms Fowler said that prior to Elsie’s illness she had not donated blood herself due to the lack of a donation clinic.
“It’s also something that really never crossed my mind when I was in Perth until we were in a situation that Elsie needed that blood,” she said.
Ms Fowler began donating during Elsie’s hospital stay in Perth but is very happy the new pop-up has visited Geraldton for the first time.
Helping others through donating
She and Ms Ayling have created a Lifeblood group called “Team Elsie and Valley” that family and friends can donate blood towards.
“We have set it up to encourage our friends and family and community that it is going to people and kids in our community,” she said.
Lea Fowler donates blood in Geraldton. (ABC Midwest Wheatbelt: Natasha Harradine)
She said they felt good knowing it was something constructive to do.
“I’m hoping that now everyone knows our story and knows that Lifeblood is in town that they can support not only us but everyone else who needs blood products,” Mr Fowler said.
Lifeblood spokesperson Jess Willett said Geraldton was chosen for a trial pop-up clinic as the organisation struggled to meet record demand for blood and blood products such as plasma.
All donations are sent to Perth for testing and processing before being distributed to hospitals around the country as needed.
The next pop-up is in February 2025.
