With love from Lucy to TUH neonatal unit

A tiny life has had a huge impact on families with pre-term or critically ill at Townsville University Hospital’s (TUH) neonatal unit.
Ingham couple Alexandra Meehan and Alexander Campbell’s baby girl Lucy was born to term at Ingham Hospital in February and rushed to TUH with complications.
Just eight days later, Lucy Margaret Campbell lost her brave fight for life.
To celebrate her life and support other families, the family raised $8,000 with the generosity of the Ingham community to donate five recliner chairs to the unit.
Mr Campbell said Lucy’s name meant “bringer of light.”
“Lucy was a very wanted and loved baby and was named the Taylor Swift of the unit because of how many people came to visit her,” he said.
“After she passed, we really felt a need to do something.
We didn’t want flowers and gifts and that sort of thing, so instead we put fundraiser information on her celebration of life invitation.”
Registered nurse Tahlia Bates was part of the retrieval team that travelled to Ingham and brought Lucy to TUH.
“Lucy was a gorgeous little girl, and her parents were incredibly strong throughout their time with us,” Ms Bates said.
“Alexandra and Alexander’s donation means that our nurses can easily find a chair to provide a warm, safe space to parents for cuddles and kangaroo care.”
The family spent five nights in the unit’s Butterfly Room, a space that gives families precious time with their babies during their final moments.
“It is such a beautiful space to be with your baby without all the noises and machines, and to feel normal for a while,” said Ms Meehan.
Neonatal staff specialist Dr Susan Ireland said Lucy would always hold a special place in the staff’s heart. “To have an enduring memory of her with the generous donation of the recliners is wonderful,” Dr Ireland said. A plaque affixed to each recliner reads ‘Love from Lucy.’
Mr Campbell and Ms Meehan said they wanted to offer their heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the health service.
“The entire Townsville Hospital and Health Service, from my amazing midwifery care in Ingham to the neonatal unit in Townsville, is literally world class,” she said.
“The nurses made our time with Lucy as beautiful as it could possibly be.
“We had the worst possible outcome, but the best possible experience.”
Ms Meehan said they were happy to have done something that made a difference, in Lucy’s name.
“We wanted Lucy’s short time here to bring as much light to others as possible.”