A devastated couple who spent thousands on IVF have spoken of their unbearable grief after losing their baby girl – after just four months together.
Klaire Carroll, 37, and and Cassidy O’Connell, 26, were overjoyed to welcome their daughter, Harlow Maeve Carroll-O’Connell.
But she had a tough journey from the moment she arrived.
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Doctors diagnosed the baby with a congenital heart defect – which they had spotted in the 20-week scan – as well as a tethered spine and a bowel condition, and had to remain in hospital for weeks.
But her parents were hopeful when they were finally allowed to take their girl home.
For a moment, it seems like Harlow had turned a corner – but tragically, not long after, she was rushed back to hospital and died in her parents’ arms.
Now, the couple are demanding answers for their daughter’s cause of death and why they were sent home despite their objections.
They have reportedly been told they may have to wait up to 18 months.
“We just knew something wasn’t right,” said Cassidy, from Stroud in Gloucestershire.
“Routine tests had showed she had high infection and inflammation levels.
“She was treated for sepsis, meningitis, everything – but her infection markers were still high.
“They [the doctors] ran every test they could and couldn’t find the cause.
“They decided to discharge her and we argued with the consultant – we knew something was wrong and she needed to stay in hospital.”
Klaire added: “We just thought – why us?
“We’ve worked so hard to have our child.
“What are we being punished for?”
Cass gave birth to Harlow via C-section with Klaire by her side at St Michael’s Hospital in Bristol.
The couple had spent years working overtime, sold a car and used redundancy pay to fund their IVF journey – but every minute and every pound had been worth it.
At the 20-week scan, when doctors told the parents of the congenital heart defect, they were given three options: termination, palliative care or multiple surgeries with a high survival rate.
They chose option number three.
After spending weeks in hospital, Harlow came home briefly, only to be rushed back in several times due to breathing difficulties, poor feeding and weight gain issues.
She underwent open-heart surgery – a BT shunt procedure that lasted around seven hours with the aim to improve blood flow to her lungs.
Klaire said: “Harlow almost didn’t make it through surgery.
“She fought and we just sat by her side, talking to her constantly and praying she would make it through.
“Things seemed to be heading in the right direction.
“They slowly lowered her sedation and she started moving her hands and feet, while trying to open her eyes.
“It was incredible – it was the best thing ever because we honestly thought we were going to lose her.
“So to see her wiggling her little toes – we were in floods of tears.”
Harlow was born on 30 January 2025.
After surviving her surgery on 31 March, she was once again sent home with her family on 28 April.
Klaire and Cass, who build electronics for work, tried to create some normal memories – a day at the beach, a trip to the aquarium – and had no idea of the horrors to come.
Cass said: “At this point, she had spent more than three-quarters of her life in hospital.
“We wanted to try and be a normal family.
“We took her to the aquarium with our families and she absolutely loved it.
“Watching her look around and take everything in was just so lovely.
“It’s one of our favourite, treasured memories.”
By early May, Harlow’s oxygen levels had dropped significantly.
She was blue-lighted to hospital where doctors found a shadow near her heart – it was endocarditis, a life-threatening bacterial infection of the heart’s inner lining.
Antibiotic treatment became difficult after cannulas failed and the tiny tot developed blood clots in her arm.
On 22 May, the little girl was taken into surgery again to fit a new PICC line, a tube used to deliver medications and other treatments to veins near the heart.
According to her parents, Harlow was screaming and her skin colour was abnormal.
Klaire and Cass watched in horror as their daughter’s oxygen and heart rate dropped.
Klaire said: “She went into cardiac arrest and died in my arms.
“They did CPR to try and bring her back but there was nothing they could do.
“Cass just spent the whole time screaming, ‘I can’t lose my baby.’”
Living in an empty home filled with Harlow’s things, the couple say the pain is like nothing they’ve ever known.
The couple said: “Every single night we light candles for her at 7.02pm [her time of death].
“Our friends and family do too.
“All of her things are still here – her cot, her toys – just not her.
“I’ve never felt such pain in my heart.
“She had been through such a tough journey but every single step of the way that girl just fought through everything with a smile on her face whenever she could.
“She was a cheeky and happy girl.
“We’re really proud of the strength and resilience she showed during her short life.
“She was a real fighter and left a lasting impression on everyone she met.”
Jam Press approached University Hospital Bristol & Weston NHS Foundation Trust for comment.
Dr Rebecca Maxwell, chief medical officer at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust said: “Our heartfelt condolences go out to Harlow’s family during this difficult time.
“We remain in close contact with the family to address their concerns and provide ongoing support.”
A GoFundMe page has also been set up to help Klaire and Cass with funeral and memorial costs for Harlow.
Any leftover funds will be donated to The Grand Appeal and Heart Heroes, charities that supported the parents through their journey.
