Baby Amelia
Helping Amelia get the best possible start at home. Also, supporting mum and dad (Emma and Keegan) during a tough and challenging time.
Canterbury
Amelia was born on the 20th of April at 10.13pm. At just 25 weeks, she was 15 weeks early. Weighing 530 grams, she was only the size of a 21-week-old baby, due intrauterine growth restriction. As she was so premature, she was on a ventilator from the moment she was born and moved to the neo-natal intensive care unit, where she spent 168 days.
She was diagnosed with CMV virus at 6 weeks old, which was affecting her breathing. Amelia had to be isolated and medicated for 6 weeks, which then caused her lungs to collapse. At that point we were asked if we would like to get her blessed, as there was nothing else that they could do. Miraculously, the next day everything changed, and we started to see big improvements, as she fought hard to get through every obstacle that was in her way.
Emma's health is a lot to juggle, on top of everything with Amelia, as she has type 1 diabetes and possibly gastroparesis. Things have been really up and down for Emma over the past three years, since she gave birth to our son, Lachlan, who had a spot in heaven reserved for him. Emma gave birth to him at 20 weeks and 5 days. He also had intrauterine growth restriction and didn’t make it.
Although she is home now, she has to be fed every three hours through a nasal gastric tube and pump and is on oxygen 24/7 to help her breath. She has severe, chronic lung disease, so is unable to breath on her own right now. All her medicines also have to be administered through her tube. This process takes about an hour and a half, leaving ninety minutes, before having to repeat again.
We are so happy to be at home with Amelia now, even with the sleep deprivation! Any support received will mean the world to us during one of the biggest journeys of our lives.
Felicity Drennan's involvement (page creator)
One of our team mates has been going through a tough time and we’ve decided to try and help out. They really do have a wee miracle in their baby girl, Amelia. She was given little chance of survival, being so premature, and has fought her way through. Amelia has finally come home but requires specialist care during these early days at home. This care is expensive and beyond the means of most folk. We are trying to raise enough funds for the first few months, to give Amelia the best possible start at home and to also take some of the pressure of mum and dad, Emma & Keegan. We will administer the funds and pay the invoices for the specialist care, taking the pressure off them.
Use of funds
Provision of specialist, in-home care, from a registered agency. This will provide the family with the support they need to get through the first few months at home. Any additional funds will go towards longer term help with Amelia's health needs.
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