Ronald McDonald House Townsville helps NQ couple for 124 days during hospital stay

After spending more than 120 nights hundreds of kilometres away from family and friends caring for their premature twins, this new mum is glad she packed more than overnight bag. Here’s their story.

Caring for a new baby is hard enough, but for the Marller family, the challenge was even more extreme – having to care for premature identical twins, with health complications, while away from home for several months.

Mackay-based parents Jessica and Cameron Marller don’t know how they would have coped without the support from Ronald McDonald House Townsville while their twins received essential medical treatment at Townsville University Hospital.

Ms Marller said she was only 26 weeks pregnant when she was admitted to Townsville University Hospital on December 16, 2022, following a routine ultrasound of their Monochorionic identical twin boys, who shared one placenta.

“The ultrasound revealed that Twin A had Intrauterine growth restriction and I also had a shortened cervix,” Ms Marller said.

“Luckily, I was given the advice from another twin mum who had a similar experience, to pack a lot more than overnight in case you stay for a while.”

Following Twin A’s water breaking on the Saturday, and steroid shots to further the twin’s lung development, she delivered the twins via an emergency C-section the next day.

Alexander (850g) was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Picture: Supplied.

William (972g) was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Picture: Supplied.

Twin A, named Alexander, weighed 850g, while Twin B, named William, was 972g, were both admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) due to their extreme prematurity.

Ms Marller said it was a “harrowing experience” how Alexander needed bowel surgery due to Necrotizing enterocolitis.

“He would need a stoma bag which was eventually reversed before we came home. This was the start of our journey through NICU and then eventually the Special Care Unit at the hospital,” she said.

Fortunately, the couple were able to access free accommodation and emotional support for a 124-night stay across the road from the hospital at Ronald McDonald House.

Mackay-based parents Jessica and Cameron Marller were grateful for the accommodation support provided by Ronald McDonald House Townsville. Picture: Supplied.

“It was nice to have our own room and shared kitchen to prepare food. Also, the open pantry and fridge with ready-made meals were a godsend when we were too exhausted to cook,” she said.

“Having this accommodation just made it easier to go through what we went through, and we will never forget the regular chats and help we received.”

William was discharged on April 3, and Alexander was discharged on April 22, with the family returning home to Mackay, where the boys were “doing well and growing every day”.

To support Ronald McDonald House Charities North Australia, visit: nafundraising.rmhc.org.au/donate-na

Originally published as Ronald McDonald House Townsville helps NQ couple for 124 days during hospital stay