Graphic video has been released documenting the tragic final days of Riley John Hughes, the four-week-old baby who tragically died of whooping cough in Western Australia last year.
“These are the final videos of our beautiful son Riley who passed away from whooping cough on the 17th of March, 2015," Riley's mother, Catherine Huges, wrote in an emotional Facebook post on the .
“I have always kept these videos to myself, as it makes my blood run cold listening to my beautiful boy cough like that. But we are sharing this in the hopes that it will convince just one more pregnant Mum to protect their baby from this disease. I wish I had known about pregnancy vaccination when I was pregnant with Riley."
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She said Riley developed the “whoop” in his cough once he reached Perth's Princess Margaret Hospital.
The disease developed within days and ultimately diminished his lungs and heart.
“If your newborn baby has a cough, and is too young to be vaccinated, please get them checked out by a doctor. Early intervention can help,” she said.
“I loved being Riley's Mum for those four weeks, I wish it were longer.
“Please share to help ensure no more babies die from this disease, which I hope one day will be relegated to the history books.”
His death was the first from whooping cough in Western Australia since 2011.
Whooping cough is part of the routine vaccination schedule for babies at two months, four months and six months of age.
The first dose can be given as early as six weeks of age.
Vaccination during pregnancy means that your body produces antibodies that get passed on to a newborn baby before birth.
These antibodies ultimately protect a baby until they're ready to receive their own vaccinations.
