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‘Miracle Baby’ shares family’s experience with parents of premature and sick babies at Warnbro meeting

Gabrielle JefferyWeekend Kwinana Courier

A SUPPORT service for parents of premature and sick babies meets fortnightly in Warnbro.

Recently Nature Group hosted Miracle Babies Foundation ambassador Laura Byrnes, who was born premature at 31 weeks in 1994, who talked about her own family’s challenge when she was born.

“My story is even more complicated by the fact my mother was diagnosed with endometriosis at an early age and was told she would never be able to conceive,” she said.

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“My journey started with my parents in country Victoria – I had stopped moving in the womb, and due to where she was in her pregnancy, was told that it wasn’t a cause for concern.”

Her mother went into early labour.

“Mum was terrified at the thought of losing me. The miracle she had hoped and prayed for all her adult life was in jeopardy.

“We were flown by air ambulance to Melbourne and mum was stabilised.”

More complications ensued and an emergency C-section was performed on Ms Byrnes’ mother; born nine weeks early she weighed just 1675g and was rushed intensive care.

“The first 12 hours of my life were critical, as I was fighting an infection as well as being placed in a head box for oxygen,” she said.

“I had no eyelashes or eyebrows. No fingernails or toe nails, as well as not fully developed in many other parts of my body.”

She met with families as a special guest to share her experiences with parents raising their prematurely born children.

“It was my absolute pleasure to have been able to meet families. It was really inspiring to hear everyone’s experience of having a premature birth and the impact Miracle Babies has, as well as how it operates within WA,” she said.

There are four group locations in Perth – Wembley, Beldon, Rockingham and Willeton.

For more information visit www.miraclebabies.org.au.

Meetings are held fortnightly on Friday’s at Warnbro Community and Family Centre, 1 Moreton Crescent, Warnbro.

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