Miracle mum Lucy shares Max's story:

In late August 2023 After recently losing my mother, I flew from Rockhampton to Sydney to visit my stepdad at 27 weeks pregnant. My trip was only supposed to be 4 days, however a severe onset of epigastric pain sent me to Bowral hospital where I was diagnosed with suspected early onset severe preeclampsia. I was transferred to Liverpool hospital and placed under close monitoring. My partner flew down to be with me and we had our beautiful Max 4 days later on 1/9/23 weighing in at just 800g. After 7 weeks, as we were about to try to wean him off NAVA to CPAP, he was found to have a twisted bowel. We were transferred to the Royal Women’s Hospital in Randwick where Max had a 60cm bowel resection over multiple surgeries. After an extremely rough recovery he finally stabilised and we were able to start the next process of trying to get home to Rockhampton. After 4 months in the NICU, we were finally given the okay to transfer to Queensland Children’s hospital in Brisbane, where we stayed in the babies ward for another 5 months trying to wean Max off TPN and start oral feeds. He contracted rhinovirus multiple times, RSV, had further surgery to treat inguinal hernias but we finally went home to Rocky hospital on May 13 2024, where we were able to get discharged with just an NG tube for Max the very next day!
We have celebrated Max’s first Christmas, Mother’s Day and father’s Day in hospital but were thrilled to be able to have celebrated his first birthday at home with family and friends. He is now almost 1 corrected and thriving. We still have lots of therapies such as physio to help but he is the happiest and sweetest little baby. We are so thankful for the past, present and future medical professionals who we have had the privilege of meeting and have help us through this journey.