'Terrible ordeal' for internet singer

Brogen is still being treated in intensive care

An amateur songwriter, who became a worldwide hit on a music website, is planning to release a single after his baby was born with brain damage.

Fintan O'Rouke, 35, became a global success in March after his songs were uploaded onto the internet as a joke.

But as the media and record labels came clamouring at his door, Mr Rourke and his girlfriend Lisa Hill, were hit by tragedy.

Their baby daughter Brogen was born with severe brain damage after a difficult birth and is still in intensive care.

Not a day goes by when we don't cry and don't hurt

Fintan O'Rourke

Mr O'Rouke is now planning to release the single 'You're Always on my Mind' to raise money for Brogen and other children like her.

Mr O'Rourke, from Hartlepool, told BBC News Online all thoughts of releasing the single were pushed to one side when Brogen was born.

"When [the song] went to number one there was a huge media interest.

"I met with the management teams of Gordon Haskell and Liberty X and I was getting requests from a lot of people for publicity, but I didn't do anything about it because my priorities were with my daughter.

"We never anticipated what would happen to Brogen - our lives have been turned upside down."

Life expectancy

Brogen was born on Mothers' Day and was diagnosed with severe brain damage shortly after birth.

She has cerebral palsy, cannot hear, see, suck or swallow, cries constantly and is unlikely ever to walk.

Doctors have told the couple that Brogen's quality of life will be low and her life expectancy is shortened.

Mr O'Rourke said: "She was starved of oxygen during a very difficult delivery and we slept and lived in hospital for the first six weeks."

"It has been a terrible and terrifying ordeal and it doesn't get any better.

Fintan O'Rouke: "Devastated"

"The trauma and hurt of watching your little girl, at times looking like she was not going to make it, is overwhelming.

"Not a day goes by when we don't cry and don't hurt."

Mr O'Rouke said he wanted to release 'You're Always on my Mind' to raise money for Brogen's treatment, for other brain damaged children, and for specialist baby equipment in hospitals.

"All the life-support equipment that my daughter has been wired up to seems to have been bought through charitable donations.

"We want to help with that and help Brogen and other children go to the Peto Institute in Hungary who specialise in helping brain damaged children reach their full potential.

A few weeks ago, the couple set up a website, which is charting her progress.

Mr O'Rouke said it is the only way that his family, who live all over the world, can see her.

"Eventually I want the website to become a one-stop-shop for parents' of brain damaged children looking for information," added Mr O'Rouke.

"It is a traumatic time for parents and they need all the help and support they can get."