‘He was our wee fighter’ – parents of baby Cormac who died after milk feed

The parents of a baby boy paid tribute to their “wee fighter” who offered them “so much hope” during his short lifetime.

Baby Cormac Lafferty was born prematurely with a congenital heart condition and his progress through life-saving surgery was described by doctors as “miraculous”.

Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane returned a narrative verdict at an inquest into the infant’s death.

Speaking after the inquest at Dublin Coroner’s Court, parents Ann-Marie and Paul Lafferty said Cormac, who died aged three months, surprised them constantly during his short life.

“He beat every target. He was a real fighter. He came home to Donegal with us and he was thriving,” Paul Lafferty said.

Ann-Marie Lafferty was staying in parents’ accommodation adjacent to Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin with Cormac’s twin Callum when she was called to the ward. Her son was in critical condition and she said the call “came too late”.

“That hurts. I was close by. I should have been informed my child was sick,” she said.

“Cormac was only three months old when he died on September 10 2016. He will be sorely missed by all of us,” Mrs Lafferty said.

The couple, from Castlefin outside Lifford in Co Donegal were commended for their “outstanding” care of baby Cormac by the infant’s consultant cardiologist Professor Colin McMahon.

“They did everything they could for him during his short life,” Prof McMahon said.

Baby Cormac was born with a congenital heart defect weighing 1.6 kilograms at 36 weeks gestation on June 13 2016. He defied expectations by gaining enough weight for life saving surgery. Doctors placed a shunt to direct blood from his heart to his lungs. Pediatric Cardiologist Dr Damien Kenny described Cormac’s survival as “miraculous”.