A father has spoken about how hard it's been not to able to hold his newborn premature daughter.
Ivy Atkinson was born to mum Kelly Williams 17 days early on December 16 and had to be rushed to Alder Hey Hospital, after a check discovered Ivy's blood was dangerously low in oxygen.
Ivy was also found to have a congenital heart defect that meant a valve in her heart needed repairing.
The seven hour operation took place last Friday and dad Callum from Anglesey spoke to North Wales Live about how hard it's been not to hold his newborn daughter.
Callum said: "Ivy is going to be in intensive care for at least a week.
"This is going to be a critical week for her. Kelly and I are living hour by hour. Ivy's covered in tubes and it's hard not being able to hold her."
He added: "Kelly and I were both so excited to be parents but we were scared too, but we never expected anything like this would happen. Ivy's heart defect was not spotted in any of her scans.
"Before the operation we noticed Ivy was tired a lot and she seemed to struggle to breath."
Callum works as a steward on Irish and Stena Ferries but has not been able to work since Ivy's birth.
The couple are struggling both financially and emotionally being 107 miles away from their support network of family and friends.
As Ivy has been moved from Wales to England, her parents say they cannot register her and receive tax credits or child benefit, so have been relying on whatever money their family and friends can afford to give them.
A Go Fund Me page has been set up to raise money for the family to help them with travel costs, food, toiletries and just everyday essentials.
If you would like to donate, go here.
