When a family is in crisis, it’s the little things that can make the biggest difference in their life. Falling pregnant is one of the happiest times in a couple’s life. A baby brings so much excitement, joy and so many possibilities.

When a family experiences a medical complex pregnancy that excitement can be shattered, and fear takes over. Wondering whether they will bring their baby home. This can cause overwhelming stress and anxiety, but you can help us reduce that stress on families.

You can help by donating to Harrison’s Little Wings, providing a family with practical support during their pregnancy. It’s the little things that can make the biggest difference.

Meet sweet Daisy, and know how important your donation is in helping families just like Daisy’s.

In September 2020, we received the exciting news that we were expecting our second bundle of joy, due to arrive in May this year. It had been quite a challenging journey to get to this point, after being diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis the year prior resulting in multiple surgeries and then starting IVF. Nothing could prepare us though for what would lie ahead.

Very early on in the pregnancy, I suffered a chorionic haemorrhage. The obstetrician assured us that it was nothing too serious but I would need to take it easy. Days and weeks passed and our little bubba continued to grow and thrive, however things started to change when unannounced my waters ruptured at 27 weeks.

The excitement and joy we were feeling about welcoming our baby into the world soon turned to stress and a fear so overwhelming, that it’s hard to explain.

The team of obstetricians at the GCUH hospital explained to me that our baby could arrive at any moment and as a result I would need to continue to stay in hospital until our baby decided to arrive. Immediately my mind started racing, how were we going to cope with this financially? Who was going to care for our other daughter? There were so many problems which needed solving at a time when my stress levels were so high and I was completely overwhelmed by emotions. I knew that I couldn’t do this all by myself and that’s when the hospital social worker suggested that we contact Harrison’s Little Wings.

I still remember that very first call! I was so scared to ask for help but I was so glad that I did. Mel was extremely friendly and easy to talk to and made me feel very well supported in an extremely stressful time.

As we live on the Tweed Coast it was costing quite a lot of money in petrol for my husband to visit me on a daily basis at the hospital. Mel suggested that Harrison’s Little Wings could assist by providing us with fuel cards which made such a huge difference to us as it was one less expense that we needed to worry about on top of the mounting bills. Mel also provided me with ongoing support with regular check ins by calling or text which I really valued.

It was so nice to have someone to talk to who had been through a similar experience. After 6 weeks spent in the GCUH, a decision was made by the obstetricians that I could finally transfer back to the John Flynn Hospital where I had originally planned to have my baby. It was such a relief for me to be able to be closer to home and the rest of my family although once again the financial stress was high as we now needed to find the money to pay for our private obstetrician costs with only one income.

I still find it hard to believe that there isn’t any government assistance to help support families who are going through the same or similar situations. Once again Mel and Harrison’s Little Wings offered their support and assistance by providing a contribution towards these costs.

My husband and I felt so overwhelmed by the generosity of the charity and will never forget the relief that they provided to us in such an unexpected and overwhelming time in our lives.

On the 20/04/2021 at 35 weeks and 1 day, we welcomed our baby girl Daisy Mae  into the world weighing 2.65kgs. On the 17/05/21 after 79 days in Hospital we finally got to take our little girl home and to this day she is still continuing to thrive.

 

 

 

Your generous financial support helps take the everyday pressures off Mums and their families so they can manage and navigate their traumatic pregnancy. Give the gift this Christmas of Practical support to a family experiencing an extremely complex pregnancy.

We can’t thank Mel and Harrison’s Little Wings enough for their kindness, generosity and support that they gave to us at such a challenging and overwhelming time in our lives. The work that they do and the support that they provide to mothers and their families of premature babies is absolutely wonderful. I really don’t know how we would have made it through this time without them and we can’t thank them enough.

 Daisy’s Mum, Rebecca.

It’s the little things that make the biggest difference – JustGiving