Please support our smallest patients by sending a Gift of Joy
As proud mums and dads will tell you, there is nothing more precious than the joy of bringing a child into the world.
That’s why we’re asking you to celebrate the miracle of new life by giving a Gift of Joy.
Your support will help to raise funds for St Vincent’s Private Hospital’s Maternity Ward.
As a not-for-profit organisation, we rely on the generosity of individuals and organisations to help us to continue to provide the highest level of services.
St Vincent’s Private Hospital provides the very best maternity care with thousands of healthy babies being born each year. We are renowned as being the best option for complex, high-risk births.
Many of our mums require additional ongoing treatment and monitoring to help them through the complexities of pregnancy. They are not doing anything out of the ordinary during those early months.
That was the case for Catherine and Luke. They experienced an emotional rollercoaster of having constant challenges thrown at them throughout the 18 months they spent trying to start a family.
Catherine and Luke had sadly lost three consecutive pregnancies due to a medical condition called hypoplastic left heart syndrome – a birth defect that affects normal blood flow through the heart.
For Catherine’s fourth pregnancy she was referred to St Vincent’s where the medical team monitored her closely to ensure the same condition didn’t recur.
Just when things were looking up for Catherine and Luke, at their 21 week routine scan, Catherine was diagnosed with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). This is a condition in which an unborn baby is smaller than it should be due to placental insufficiency. Her foetus was approximately 11 days behind in growth. The young couple were again faced with the possibility that their baby may not survive.
The midwifery team at St Vincent’s took on the challenge to help Catherine and Luke through this.
Catherine was admitted to St Vincent’s Private Hospital at 23 weeks gestation, where she was closely monitored and looked after by our team of midwives. After five and a half weeks in hospital, both Catherine and her unborn baby were well enough to return home.
The couple celebrated the birth of baby Owen on 2 November 2018 at St Vincent’s Private, weighing just 1.63 kilograms.
Lots of tears of joy were shed in the Theatre Room and Maternity Ward that day. In Catherine’s own words, “I was in disbelief that he was here”.
Because he was so small, baby Owen continued to receive care in our Special Care Nursery where he continued to thrive. After four weeks he was well enough for Catherine and Luke to take him home and start their journey as a new family.
The care provided to Catherine and baby Owen is not unique. Every day countless mums require ongoing monitoring to ensure they too can experience the joy of new life.
Now one year on we are thrilled for Catherine and Luke who are asking you to join them in celebrating Owen’s first birthday by sharing a Gift of Joy.
Catherine says, ‘Owen, has had a lot of tests over the last five months. He’s still really tiny but just a happy bundle of joy. We’re so thrilled.’
‘All the care we’ve had is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to us.’
‘We will be forever grateful.’
Send a gift today together with a personal message to mums and our smallest patients. Your support will help to ensure many more of our smallest patients like Owen have the best possible start in life.
Please donate today and join us in celebrating Owen’s birthday. You can also share a personal message to mums and our smallest patients in our care.
Your support will help to ensure many more of our smallest patients like Owen, have the best possible start in life.
Please share a Gift of Joy this Christmas. Your gift will help countless mums and dads like Catherine and Luke celebrate the most precious gift of all – the Gift of Joy and new life. Thank you.
