A Co Derry baby who was born weighing just over 1lb is being cared for at hospital in Dublin.
Baby Tiarnán was born on November 1 of this year, at 25 weeks and two days.
His mother Chloe Rutherford was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia at Altnagelvin Area Hospital and was then transferred to The Rotunda in Dublin.
Tiarnán was then born by emergency c-section, weighing only 577 grams and is now in neonatal intensive care.
Chloe and the tot's father Darren are currently staying in Dublin to be by his side.
They have created a Facebook page sharing their beloved baby's journey, along with fundraising events to allow them to stay with Tiarnán during this crucial time.
Chloe told Belfast Live : "He has been down here for six weeks past on Sunday.
"Everything is day by day at the minute due to his wee lungs and his condition.
"The community have definitely been a great help, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for their help."
She said this has been such a stressful experience, even trying to get Tiarnán's daddy a place to stay before he was born - as they didn't know when it would be.
Chloe added: "He had to try and be in Dublin as well.
"We are staying just ten minutes from the hospital at the minute, it's great because we just aren't sure when we are going to get a phone call or when we need to be with him. It means we can be over every day."
The infant is currently on steroids for his lungs, as he was diagnosed with chronic lung disease last week.
Chloe said: "His wee lungs just weren't developing at the right pace.
"I had my first skin to skin with him when he was two weeks old, and his daddy got his on November 21.
"It was heartbreaking getting in to see him and not being able to hold him or touch him."
On the latest update posted on their Facebook page, Chloe and Darren said it has thankfully been a better week.
They added: "He [Tiarnán] has his eyes tested on Tuesday and all looks good so far and will have a follow up done every week to check progress.
"Start of week wasn’t great for blood results even though he looked great and was still active and a good colour.
"The bloods showed complications with the liver and sodium levels, meaning he wasn’t putting on any weight, meaning Tiarnán was put into an IV drip of sodium.
"He was taken off the TPN [Total Parenteral Nutrition] and fluids and is now on 100% milk at 20ml feeds every 3 hours. Friday's blood results came back and were showing better numbers, meaning the liver was less irritated and gas levels were good.
"Daddy has his second cuddles on Thursday and also got to change his first nappy on Friday. When Tiarnán was weighed on Saturday night, he was 930grams/2lbs, meaning he had put on 130grams from the Monday - so finally things are looking better for him.
"One day at a time but we are finally going in the right direction."
To donate to help Tiarnán's mummy and daddy stay with him in Dublin, PayPal darian_9@hotmail.co.uk.
