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Help us stay close to our baby boy in the NICU

  • Day 103

      25 February 2026
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    After a having a very bad week two weeks ago, Beckett has bounced back so well!

    Yesterday afternoon on day 103 we finally were able to take our boy home! He is on continuous flow of oxygen, so we have tanks at home, and ones that are portable incase we need to take him anywhere.

    We are so happy to have him home and finally start to see what our normal life will be. The big boys are stoked to have their brother home too. Beckett ended up weighing in at 3940grams (8.6), 40+5, day 103, size newborn!

    We’ll close the payoff in a couple of days so everyone has time to read the final update.

    Sarah and I (and the boys) appreciate every single one of you who donated and essentially kept our family together for nearly 4 months. We couldn’t have done it without your generosity and we’ll never forget it.

    Now we finally have time to prepare for a newborn even though he’s already here! No time to prep when you spend 10 hours a day in hospital!

    Thank again!

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    • 26/02/2026 by Katie

      Awesome news Brooke & Sarah!! I love that the cat welcomed him home too. Enjoy your time together at home as a family with all your boys xx

  • Day 93

      14 February 2026
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    Beckett has had a rough week this week. On Wednesday he took a turn and had to be placed back on cpap, back into an incubator and needed a line for IV antibiotics. There was concern about an infection and potential meningitis. On Thursday he had to undergo a lumbar puncture (spinal tap), to rule out serious bugs and was placed in to an isolation room as a precaution.

    Sarah’s birthday was yesterday and unfortunately (but also fortunately) spent in the hospital with Beckett. He is doing much better today, antibiotics have stopped as all results came back negative/clear. He did have low sugar and high protein plus very high numbers of infection markers, but in the NICU any indication of infection is treated with antibiotics immediately, even before bloods are taken, the quick action saves babies lives, so there may have been something but it could have been caught early on. He is now 39 weeks and 2 days. But it looks like we’ll be in here for a few more weeks.

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  • Growing growing growing!

      26 January 2026
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    36 weeks and 4 days old today!

    This past week Beckett has come off CPAP (high needs respiratory support) and gone on to optiflow which is air through his nose. A step closer to coming off support altogether. He is now 2906g, so close to 3kgs and more than 3x his birth weight! He has come off all meds but remains on vitamins. It has been a particularly hard week with having our toddler Nash also admitted to hospital with a severe skin infection. 2 kids, 2 wards, big juggle. Both are on the mend and today is a good day :)

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    • 28/01/2026 by Katie

      Great news Brooke & Sarah, awesome to see Beckett has put on so much weight. He's looking great! Thanks for the updates xx

    • 30/01/2026 by Leah McLaughlin

      I’m so pleased to see all is going well with little Beckett! Sarah and Brooke you are both amazing!! So good to see the wee update xx

  • Back to Palmy!

      24 December 2025
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    After a failed attempt (even made it onto the plane), we managed to get back to Palmerston North two weeks ago. Just in time for Christmas! Beckett will stay in the Neonatal Unit here until he’s term and capable of doing most things on his own. But we are just grateful to be back with our family and support system and be home in time to spend the holiday season with our boys.

    Beckett is doing really well! He doubled his birth weight at his last weigh in and now weighs 1790g! On Christmas Day he will be 32weeks (6 weeks corrected) and will soon start the process of weaning off respiratory support and might even be able to wear clothes! Thank you everyone for your support and Merry Christmas from all of us!

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  • Day 20

      3 December 2025
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    Day 20 - Dunedin NICU

    The last few days baby has been very unsettled, he’s been having very deep bradys (heart rate dropping from 170s to 30-40), followed by a drop in respiratory rate and then a drop in O2 saturation. Some days having around 30 events and most needing intervention and a couple needing to be given manual breaths with a neo-puff (tiny baby resuscitation machine). The last 24 hours have been much better. Baby has been self reverting the events and they have become less frequent. We are still hoping for a transfer, fingers crossed it happens next week. We have been away from home now for over a month and it’s getting harder and harder day by day.

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  • Day 10

      23 November 2025
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    Baby is doing well, he’s come off all supplementary IV nutrients now and is only running fluids through his PICC to keep the line open for his final few doses of antibiotics. Fingers crossed the PICC can come out on Monday and then he’ll only be on bubble CPAP to help him breathe. Today was weigh in day and… he’s now 1 whole kg! This is a criteria for transfer back to Palmerston North, so that’s one ticked off! Wahoo!! Go baby! Get us home!

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    • 26/11/2025 by Katie

      Thanks for the update Brooke & Sarah, 1 kilo woohoo! Bet his big brothers can't wait to meet him 🥰

  • Day Five

      18 November 2025
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    Baby Edmonds has made it to day five! Yesterday was very touch and go, he had many procedures which put a lot of pressure on him. Today was a better day although we have a positive for infection. He’s on antibiotics and still lots of fluids, he’s increasing his milk feeds daily which is a step towards weaning off some fluids. Currently we are just taking each day as it comes. It’s hard and we aren’t out of the woods yet but thank you so much to everyone who has donated. This means Sarah and I can stay with him in the NICU and relieves some of the financial pressures at this time. We are so appreciative and grateful for the support.

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    • 19/11/2025 by Carol

      thank you so much for keeping us updated thinking of you all love to you all xo

  • The first 24 hours

      14 November 2025
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    Baby Edmonds’ first 24 hours have been so good!

    The NICU team say he’s exceeding their expectations for a premmie born at 26 weeks, he’s had skin to skin with both māmās, and is starting to dabble with drops of colostrum in his NG tube. He’s very tiny, but has been making big moves, he’s a strong little guy!

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