'I quit my car sales job to become a paramedic after docs saved my baby's life'
A big-hearted car salesman was inspired to become a paramedic after the life of his newborn baby was saved by hospital staff.
Carl Birks, 33, is changing careers after daughter Felicity's fight for life at two hours old.
Carl and wife, Charlie, 35, were left devastated when medics were forced to deliver their baby at 29 weeks.
Little fighter Felicity was diagnosed with hydrops fetalis, deadly fluid on the lungs, and treated at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.
Medics warned Felicity had just a five percent chance of survival when her heart stopped shortly after she was born.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
Doctors brought her back from the brink by draining her lung and performing CPR.
She was finally resuscitated and spent two months in Sheffield Teaching Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit.
They were able to remove excess liquid in the rest of her body.
Carl and his wife Charlie with baby Felicity (SWNS)After spending three months in hospital, the tot, now four, made a full recovery and was finally allowed home. But the experience changed Carl, of Hatfield, Doncaster, forever and he has now taken on a new career as a paramedic.
The dad of four, said: “I was so worried, Charlie and I had been wishing for a girl and we didn't want to lose our first daughter.
"We didn’t know if she would make it as we sat outside the incubation room. We waited 16 hours for her to stabilise, with only a photo of her to hold. The medics were incredible."
He said that their life-saving work, helping and calming "reassurance" made the biggest impact. He added: "Now she’s my strong willed, always happy, camera-loving miracle. "I realised that I could not go back to selling cars. I wanted to look after people the way that I was looked after.”
Little fighter Felicity was diagnosed with hydrops fetalis (SWNS)Carl and health care assistant Charlie, parents to Jayden, 16, Anthony, 12, and Oliver, six, told how Felicity's abnormal heart rate was spotted in the womb so they decided to deliver her early. She was swiftly transferred, at just five-hours-old, from Doncaster Royal infirmary to The Jessop Wing, part of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, until she was stable enough to be moved to Sheffield Children’s Hospital
The newborn had to undergo surgery four times and spent 116 days in hospital before finally being discharged.
Carl recalled: ''All the doctors and nurses treated Felicity and us amazingly, taking care of our every need. We couldn't believe it when we were finally allowed to take her home. It felt like I was on top of the world.”
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With the support of his wife, Carl began his Level 3 Diploma in Health Science at Doncaster College, in Sept 2022. He is due to start an undergraduate degree in Paramedic Science at University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, in September.
Felicity was brought back from the brink by doctors (SWNS)
Carl is hoping to become a paramedic to make an 'impact' (SWNS)"It was a little daunting going back to school," Carl continued.
"But I was determined to do it, not just for Felicity but for the wonderful paramedics and medical staff that were the biggest support. Felicity is only four but is proud of me and that keeps me going.
"I'm hoping to become a paramedic and make an impact on people as they did for me." Carl has since taken on the challenge of having an ice bath every day for 116 days to raise money for The Children’s Hospital Charity and Embrace, Sheffield Children's highly specialist, round-the-clock transport service for critically ill infants and children in Yorkshire and the Humber who require care in another hospital in the region or further afield.
He said: "The hardest part is getting yourself in there, it still shocks me. Our experience after her birth showed me what an amazing job everyone in the medical field does, and I want to be a small part of that too.''
Click here for Carl's fundraiser.
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