A baby boy who captured the hearts of many after being born prematurely with his twin brother has tragically died following a battle with the flu.
Louie and Vinnie Hughes, who were born in September 2023, were so tiny at birth that their eyes were still fused shut. Against all odds, the tiny warriors made progress under the care of medical staff. Tragically, just before Christmas, both boys became ill and fell into comas.
In a devastating turn of events, Louie’s heart stopped for 19 minutes and he died on Christmas Day. Mum-of-five Meg Hughes said Vinnie has thankfully recovered and is back home in Stockton with his family, but they are all grappling with the loss of Louie.
She told TeesideLive: “I just feel numb at the moment to be honest. You don’t expect a child to die of the flu in 2024.
“He fought so hard and now it’s just so sad. He has definitely touched a lot of hearts. He was lovely, always laughing and smiling.”
She added that Vinnie seems lost without his brother and is “very quiet,” while her older children, Ronnie, five, Nancy, nine, and six year old Eren, “don’t know what to do”. “They can’t take it in,” the mum added.
Meg said the boys beat the odds when they were born
The twins were born within 20 minutes of Meg making a mad dash to James Cook University Hospital, with Vinnie weighing in at 1lb 6oz and Louie at 1lb 4oz. They were so small they could fit in Meg’s hand.
Despite being born prematurely, the twins were thriving at 15 months old. Meg, revealed that they had weak immune systems and lung issues, which she believes made them more susceptible to the flu.
However, she shared that doctors are still unsure why Louie’s heart suddenly stopped. Vinnie was the first twin to fall seriously ill, with Meg recalling: “Vinnie was in a coma for six days. I had just got him back from the RVI to North Tees Hospital when I took Louie there as well because he was poorly.”
They were so small they could fit in Meg’s hand
She explained that Louie’s condition worsened rapidly, leading to him being rushed to the RVI and placed into an induced coma on December 21 to aid his lung recovery.
Tragically, Louie began having seizures and his heart stopped. Despite medics’ efforts to resuscitate him for 19 minutes, Louie sadly passed away on Christmas Day.
A fundraising page has been set up by a family member to cover the costs of Louie’s funeral and ensure he gets the best send-off possible. Any remaining funds will be donated to the RVI in Newcastle.
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