Crestmead premmie baby Daisy youngest to make it home

Crestmead parents Ebony Goddard and Jeromy Hart are counting their blessings this Christmas to have new baby Daisy home from hospital in a record-breaking first.

Little Daisy Hart, their first child, is a record-breaking baby who was born at Mater Mothers’ Hospital at just 22 weeks and 6 days’ gestation.

She is the first premature newborn to safely go home from the Mater as a baby born under 23 weeks.

Daisy, who weighed just 499 grams at birth – less than a tub of butter – spent more than 150 days in two Queensland hospitals battling the odds to survive.

Ebony, 20, and Jeromy, 22, say they are ‘overjoyed’ their miracle baby girl is finally home.

When Daisy was born at Mater Mothers’ Private Hospital on 27 June she was so tiny that she could fit in the palm of her father’s hand.

She spent 2 weeks in Mater’s Neonatal Critical Care Unit (NCCU) before being transferred to the adjoining Queensland Children’s Hospital for surgery on her bowel and brain.

ABOVE: Little Daisy Hart born at 22 weeks, battled to survive. Photo: Annette Dew.

‘When I got to hospital after my water broke, doctors could already see Daisy was about to make her entrance,’ Ebony says.

‘She is lucky to be here and to be alive.

‘So many times I thought my little girl wouldn’t survive, but thanks to the team at Mater and Queensland Children’s Hospital she is here.

‘To know she is the earliest surviving baby born at Mater Mothers’ is something the hospital team should be so proud of – we certainly are.’

Ebony says Daisy’s journey was difficult from the very start and watching her daughter undergo 4  surgeries was ‘heartbreaking’.

‘She was ten days old when she had her first surgery to fix her bowel and needed two more to continue the repair,’ she says.

Daisy also needed major surgery on her brain after having 2 bleeds which caused fluid to build up.

‘The first time we got to hold Miss Daisy was when she was four days old,’ Ebony says.

‘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.’

Mater Director of Neonatology Dr Pita Birch says it is amazing to be a part of the multidisciplinary team that worked to save baby Daisy’s life.

‘Daisy is the most premature baby ever born at Mater to survive and go home,’ Dr Birch says.

‘Advances in technology and having Mater medical experts by her side every step of the way was what gave Daisy a chance of survival.

‘She is proof that Mater is leading the way in caring for Queensland’s most fragile babies.

‘Seeing babies like Daisy go home to their parents is a magical moment for everyone who works in Mater’s NCCU.’

Dr Birch says Daisy has endured some setbacks, and may face some ongoing movement and learning issues as she gets older, but her growth and strength has been impressive.

Daisy spent more than 5 months in Mater Mothers’ and Queensland Children’s Hospital before going home at the end of November.

‘The day we brought Daisy home was the best day of my life,’ Ebony says.

‘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.’

Ebony says Daisy is a ‘strong and beautiful little fighter’.

‘She inspires me every day with the strength and determination.’

PHOTO AT TOP: Daisy Hart, of Crestmead, is the youngest premmie baby to make it safely home from Mater Mothers’ Private Hospital. Photo: Annette Dew.