"At 34 weeks I was attending my standard OBGYN appointment when after an irregular heartbeat check my waters broke. The rest happened so quickly. Before I knew it my husband was by my side, I cried because I wasn’t ready, a Neonatal doctor came in to explain what to expect next, although this went in one ear and out the other, and 7 hours later our little man was earthside.

One minute I have Rowdy in my arms and the next he was struggling to breathe on his own, with his little lungs not yet strong enough, and within minutes he was gone and whisked away to the NICU.

That night I knew I was a Mum, but I could not quite shake the feeling that I was not whole. I didn’t get to have the picture-perfect birth experience, my little man was not by my side, I didn’t get to breastfeed him like I had planned.

It wasn’t until hours later after he was settled and I was fixed up that I got to visit him in the NICU and as it was the start of COVID I had to do this on my own without my husband with the 1-person restriction being in place. Our little guy was hooked up to machines and CPAP, and it was overwhelming and scary, but I knew he was in safe hands.

It wasn’t until 2 days later on Father’s Day that he was allowed to be held, with the advice of this only happening by 1 parent. Although I longed to hold my little man, I knew my husband was broken and needed this more than I did. Brandon got to hold our little man that day, and although it was heartbreaking seeing him so weak, it was what we needed to have hope.

Fast forward to two weeks later, we were able to take our little man home. I was so scared because he was still so fragile, but I know that I was supported and I learnt so much throughout those two weeks, the support that we received throughout this time was phenomenal and we were so well supported by the Logan NICU.

Those two weeks were the hardest times, but we now have a strong and healthy little 2-year-old running around."