A baby who stole the hearts of Teessiders when he was born prematurely alongside his twin brother – has tragically died after contracting flu.
Louie and Vinnie Hughes were born in September 2023 and were so tiny their eyes were still fused closed. But, the battling duo beat the odds and medics said they were thriving.
However, just days before Christmas, both of the youngsters became unwell and ended up in comas due to the flu, the boys’ mum Meg Hughes told Teesside Live. Tragically Louie’s heart stopped beating for 19 minutes and he died on Christmas morning.
The mum-of-five said Vinnie has thankfully recovered and is back home in Stockton with his family, but they are all struggling to come to terms with the loss of Louie.
Twins Vinnie (left) and Louie Hughes just after they were born
(Image: UGC)
She said: “I just feel numb at the moment to be honest. You don’t expect a child to die of the flu in 2024. He fought so hard and now it’s just so sad.
“He has definitely touched a lot of hearts. He was lovely, always laughing and smiling.”
She said Vinnie seems lost without his brother and is ‘very quiet’ and her older children, Ronnie, five, Nancy, nine, and six-year-old Eren, “don’t know what to do”. “They can’t take it in,” the Teesside mum added.
Meg with the twins
(Image: UGC)
The twins were born within 20 minutes of Meg making a mad dash to James Cook University Hospital, Vinnie weighing in at 1lb 6oz and Louie at 1lb 4oz. They were so small they could fit in Meg’s hand.
Despite their premature births, the boys were doing really well at 15-months-old. Meg said their immune systems were low and they had some trouble with their lungs, which is why she believes the flu struck them so badly. However, she said the doctors don’t seem to know why Louie’s heart stopped.
Louie (right) and Vinnie were thriving after before tragedy struck
(Image: UGC)
Vinnie was the first of the twins to become really poorly. Meg explained: “Vinnie was in a coma for six days. I had just got him back from the RVI to North Tees Hospital when I took Louie there as well because he was poorly.”
She said Louie’s condition continued to deteriorate and he was blue-lighted to the RVI and placed in an induced coma on December 21 to give his lungs a better chance to recover. Sadly he was having seizures and his heart stopped.
Meg said medics performed resuscitation for 19 minutes and get his heart going again, but sadly it was too late for him and he died on December 25. A funding page has been set up by a family member to help fund the cost of Louie’s funeral and give him the best send off they can.
Any funds left over will be given to the RVI in Newcastle. Anyone who would like to make a donation can visit the page here.
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