A tiny baby girl, born at 22 weeks and 6 days, has made it home in time to celebrate her first Christmas at home with her parents.
Little Daisy Hart, who weighed only 499g at birth, has become the youngest surviving baby born at Mater Mothers’ Hospital, Queensland, to safely go home.
When Daisy was born in June, she was so small that she could fit in the palm of her dad’s hand. Her mum, Ebony Goddard, and dad, Jeromy Hart, said that their little girl spent over 150 days in hospitals fighting to survive.
Daisy was born early, weighing less than a tub of butter, as her mum had a shortened cervix. After two weeks in Mater Mother’s Hospital Neonatal Critical Care Unit (NCCU), the little girl was transferred to the neighbouring Queensland Children’s Hospital for surgery on her bowel and brain.
As her parents watched on, they were worried that their daughter would not survive and said that it was “heartbreaking” to watch her go through so much at such a young age. Mum and dad were only able to hold Daisy when she was four days old.
Mum said “I was scared at first because of how little she was and all the cords and machines that were connected to her. But the best feeling in the world was holding my little miracle. We knew she had it in her to keep fighting, I wasn’t giving up”.
Medics praise technological advances that helped Daisy break the hospital’s record
The Director of Neonatology at Mater Mothers’ Hospital, Dr Pita Birch, said “Daisy is the most premature baby ever born at Mater to survive and go home. Advances in technology and having Mater medical experts by her side every step of the way was what gave Daisy a chance of survival”.
He added “Seeing babies like Daisy go home to their parents is a magical moment for everyone who works in Mater’s NCCU”.
The doctor said that little Daisy’s growth and strength had been impressive. As a result, after more than five months in the Queensland hospitals, record-breaking Daisy went home at the end of November, making her the earliest surviving baby born at Mater Mothers’ Hospital to safely go home.
Daisy’s mum described her daughter’s arrival at home as “the best day of my life ….Finally, I have my little princess home before Christmas – that was my goal through this journey. We will be celebrating Christmas with Daisy meeting all of her family and friends”.
Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said “How amazing that Daisy, born at just 22 weeks and 6 days, is now home with her family preparing to celebrate Christmas with them. What a perfect Christmas present for the family”.
