Platelet Recipient Story - Arya

Hi, my name is Ionela. I live in county Dublin and have been happily married for the last 7 years. In 2019 I became pregnant unexpectedly, it was like a miracle. My husband and I were overjoyed with the amazing news. We finally felt we were taking the most important steps of our lives, growing our family and fulfilling our dream of having a healthy little bundle of joy. To be healthy is all that matters, I cannot count how many times I heard this phrase.

It was time to meet the doctors for the first time, and during that visit, our blessing doubled. Two hearts appeared on the monitor. Two heartbeats. We could not believe it. That day was the happiest start to our journey.

As the days flew by, I eagerly attended all of my appointments. My blood pressure began to fluctuate and I was put on more medication. It was scary, but I focused onone thing: the day I would hold my children in my arms for the first time. A girl and a boy—more than we had ever dreamed of.  We hoped and prayed each day for their safe development. But at 24 weeks, we found out that my daughter’s heart might stop. Her blood flow was restricted and I was admitted to the prenatal unit of the Rotunda Hospital for close monitoring.

On a rainy morning in November 2019, at 25 weeks and 6 days, our babies arrived by emergency C-section. The room was filled with more doctors and medical staff than I had ever seen before. My daughter came first, with no sound, no crying, at just 600 grams. How could a human be so small? Though I did not see her, I felt her. My son came a minute later, weighing 900 grams. "Are they okay? Are they breathing? Are they alive?"

Suddenly, our world was filled with tears, prayers, and endless hope for a chance at life. My daughter was too small, too sick. She could not cry, her lungs had not developed, and her brain was at risk of bleeding. She could not be touched—she was too fragile. Tubes, machines, and monitors surrounded our little ones. While my son Adam remained stable, my daughter Arya became even sicker on her 11th day of life. 

We were told, in the middle of the night, that she would not make it until morning. But Arya was strong. She would fight. She would grow lungs, gain weight, breathe and avoid brain bleeds or organ failure. She received the maximum amount of oxygen, nitric oxide, and continuous pain relief.

Her final chance came with a treatment involving corticosteroids, which had a risk of brain bleeding. Because Arya’s blood had formed so early, her platelet levels were dangerously low. We were told she would need platelet transfusions on standby in case of bleeding. Arya received a total of 8 platelet transfusions during her 104 days in the NICU. Each one had the same purpose: to make her strong enough to face the treatments without the side effects that could have ended her fight.

Arya was important not only to us and her twin brother but to everyone who saw her during that time. She was important to the platelet donors— regular people whose selfless actions bridged the gap between life and death for our fragile little girl.

Raising awareness about platelet donation is now deeply personal to us. It is a cause that has touched our lives in the most profound way, and we are forever grateful to those who donated. Every donation matters. It could be the reason another family gets to experience the joy and relief we now feel as we watch our healthy, happy, beautiful children thrive.

Today, when we look at our twins, it is impossible not to think about where we were just a short time ago. Every milestone, every giggle, every tiny footstep reminds us of the delicate balance between life and death that they faced in the NICU. Our gratitude to you the platelet donors, is immeasurable.

Thank you from all our hearts.

Ayra and Adam