Southeast Queensland’s miracle babies of 2022 and their stories
Families across southeast Queensland are counting their blessings as 15 mums share their emotional miracle birth stories from 2022 which could have turned to heartbreak.
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Childbirth is unpredictable, it can be a rollercoaster of emotions and can often take a toll on a woman with expecting mothers sometimes hearing the worst news possible.
But as we close in on the New Year, here are the women, who have beaten the odds and brought their new little ones into the world.
Through complications and decisions, hospital staff have ensured mothers are supported throughout the entire course of their delivery, celebrating the hardships, the support and the love shared in this beautiful experience.
SEE THE MIRACLE BIRTH STORIES BELOW
Deputy Clinical Director of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Dr Lee Minuzzo, said caring for women throughout was “a privilege”.
“To share their hopes and dreams. To provide support and compassion in times of apprehension and fear (is a privilege),” she said.
“Time and again, we see the resilience and strength of women as they deal with difficult outcomes whether they be expected or unexpected.
“Time and again, we see the love these women have for their newborn regardless of the outcome.”
PAISLEY-SARAH GRACE
Paisley-Sarah Grace was born on November 18 this year diagnosed with Selective Intrauterine Growth Restriction (SIUGR).
A condition where a baby does not grow to a normal weight during pregnancy.
“We were advised that we wouldn’t make it to 24 weeks,” mum, Shannon O’Dwyer, said.
“We made it to 37 weeks with all odds against us.”
Ms O’Dwyer said they were prepared for Paisley to undergo months worth of a NICU journey but were given the best surprise of their life.
“She was born breathing and fighting, no tubes, nothing,” she said.
“She was discharged home after four days.”
FREYA
Born this month Freya was just 645g when she was delivered at 24 weeks along with her twin brother, Ari.
Their mother, Ola beat incredible odds delivering them as she suffers from an undiagnosable chronic immune system disorder.
Both Freya and Ari were born with several health problems with Ari suffering from kidney issues and under renal specialists.
Freya has severe chronic lung disease and has been failing to put on weight and continuous vomiting.
The twins and their mum, Ola, have suffered an incredibly long and hard journey.
“This has been the hardest journey for both twins but more so little Freya who has spent most of this entire year in hospital 123 days before being allowed home and then in and out since with the last almost three months in the children’s (hospital),” their friend, Charlie Mancini, said.
“She is currently undiagnosed with some kind of auto-immune disorder and after many operations and illness later Freya is still smiling.
“Even through her hardest days she will crack a smile.”
Ms Mancini has set up a GoFundMe page for the twins recovery.
ZY-ALLY DOREEN JULIE
Zy-Ally Doreen Julie was born two weeks before her due date on August 25.
Her mum, Zephaniah Zy-Ally Brady, was forced to deliver her in a home birth in her Logan home.
“It wasn’t planned as it just happened unexpectedly,” Ms Brady said.
“Everything was natural but due to being early I felt under a lot of stress.”
Ms Brady lost her partner tragically 10 days before her daughter was born, leaving their family without a father.
AMELIA CHRISTENE THOMAS-JURGENSEN
Amelia Christene Thomas-Jurgensen was born as a baby “very much on the bigger side” after an immense struggle during birth.
Her mother, Bëthäny Thomas, said she had a lot of complication during her birth.
“I was induced at 37 weeks due to my medical condition (Type 1 Diabetes) and because bub was measuring very much so on the bigger side,” Ms Thomas said.
“After 36 hours of labour with little to no progression I dilated to 3cm and stopped.
“I contracted seven times in a 10 minute period for hours.
“Baby started to become very stressed and oxygen levels were dropping and an emergency C-section was required.
“Once in theatre and opened up they realised baby was most certainly on the bigger side and needed to make my cut bigger.”
Baby Amelia was born at 9 pound 7 ounces but her mum said she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“A lot of post birth complications came along with this, but everything was so worth it,” she said.
RHIANNON MAREE GREGORY
Rhiannon Maree Gregory was born after her mum, Paige Wilson, had a terrible accident, falling down a set of stairs.
“I was induced because I fell down the stairs and had high blood pressure,” Ms Wilson said.
Ms Wilson said when they weighed her daughter the number on the scale was unexpected.
“The doctors kept telling me she would be a big baby but she ended up being 2.8kg,” she said.
“She is such a ray of sunshine and has a very cheeky personality.”
CHARLEE ROBERTS
Charlee Roberts was born in June this year, a very much welcomed surprise from her parents.
Parents, Tamika and Chris Roberts, said Charlee was their little miracle after trying for a baby for more than five years.
“I did eight pregnancy tests and it still didn’t sink in to me,” Ms Roberts said.
“I was just in so much shock, I didn’t know how to process it.”
Ms Roberts said her pregnancy was incredibly stressful after being in labour for three days.
“I had to get an emergency C-section,” she said.
“All I said was get her out, I need to get out.
“While I was in labour I looked at her monitor and her heart rate just kept dropping.
“It was very stressful.
“She ended up in special care for two days after that.”
Ms Roberts said Charlee has so much personality at six months.
“She’s crazy as ever,” she said.
“She’s got so much attitude and is starting to clap.
“She absolutely loves food, everything that we eat she has to have.
“She’s overall just a very happy baby.”
ZARA JOY
Zara Joy was born in among one of the most serious natural disasters Australia has had this year – the floods.
“Our beautiful Zara Joy was born on the 26th Feb, in among the flood action,” her mum, Larissa DeVos said.
“We went into hospital … then the flooding started that night.
“After two nights of waiting, went into the birthing suite.
“I was in active labour for 16 hours with no luck, so she arrived via emergency C-section.”
Ms DeVos’s partner was told he would have to drive back through the floods at 3am.
“By the time we were allowed to leave the hospital, all the rain had stopped,” Ms DeVos said.
“But it was all worth it to see this munchkin grow.”
ATHENA
Athena was born 10 weeks early and had a rough start to life, spending more than 100 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
“Athena spent 108 days in NICU/SCN, then three days after discharge was admitted back into hospital with Meningitis and Roseola Infantum which resulted another seven day stay,” her mum, Hannah Paterson said.
“She went home, then two weeks later back in again due to Rhinovirus, HMPV and Rotavirus for yet another seven days.”
Ms Paterson said Athena and her older brother were born only seven months and three weeks apart.
“I fell pregnant four weeks post-partum and gave birth at 30 weeks,” she said.
Ms Paterson said Athena was now a healthy and happy baby at seven-months old.
HOLLY
Three-month Holly suffers from a critical heart defect she was diagnosed with at birth.
It is a combination of four heart defects at birth that can cause oxygen-poor blood to flow out of the heart and into the rest of the body.
Holly’s mum, Amy Ryan, said the disease is life-threatening and her daughter will have to have surgery soon.
“She’s about to have her first open heart surgery in the new year,” she said.
“She has heart defects collectively called tetralogy of fallout.”
ISABEL
Newly-engaged parents, Nicole Doyle and Joshua Williams, said their Isabel’s survival was a miracle after being told by doctors Ms Doyle would have a late-term miscarriage.
“We fought so hard for her,” Ms Doyle said.
“She is our miracle, as she hung in there until 35 weeks gestation even with my open cervix, infection risk and bulging membranes, she arrived safe and healthy.
“It’s been a very special Christmas this year.”
Ms Doyle said Isabel was very mischievous after just learning how to crawl.
“Isabel, she’s just about to crawl now and is getting into absolutely everything,” she said.
“She’s always such a happy baby.
“She’s got such a sweet personality and is very cheeky.
“She definitely going to be a trouble maker for us.”
KAELYN
Kaelyn was born premature and had a tough road ahead of him.
His mother Cloe Skye said he definitely gave her a fright.
“My little one Kaelyn was born in May at 29 weeks, so 11 (weeks) premature, weighing only 3.5 pounds and needing a two month hospital stay,” Ms Skye said.
“He finally came home still on oxygen he’s a little fighter but he just couldn’t wait to be out anymore.”
JAYCE
Five-month-old Jayce was a very much welcomed miracle baby after mum, Kloe-Vida Schuh, suffered seven previous miscarriages through IVF.
Disheartened by the incredible loss, Ms Schuh took a break from IVF and was overcome with surprise when she found out she was pregnant.
“We decided to take a break and I fell naturally completely shocked and surprised,” Ms Schuh said.
“But I wouldn't have it any other way.
“He is our blessing.”
JUDAH
Judah gave his mum, Renee Cheney a bit of a surprise, entering the world in the most unusual of places.
“This little cutie was born in April, in our shower at home,” Ms Cheney said.
“Hubby was on the phone to the ambulance once we realised our plans to head to hospital were not going to happen.
“Our other kids were asleep but the dog was freaking out at the kerfuffle so hubby had to catch a baby, talk to the ambos and block the dog from trying to get to me to see if I was OK.
“By the time the paramedics got to us, I was sitting on the top of the toilet seat feeding my 9 (pound) baby boy, Judah.”
EVELYN
Three-month-old Evelyn was an incredible surprise for her mother, Samantha Dean.
After struggling to conceive for more than two and a half years, their little miracle came along in September.
“She‘s our rainbow baby,” Ms Dean said.
“After having four miscarriages over two and half years,
“We love our little cutie so much, such a blessing to have her.”
ROHAN MATTHEW PIEPER
One-month-old Rohan Mattew Pieper was delivered through strenuous circumstance in November.
“He was a frank breech baby with the cord wrapped around his neck twice so we opted to have a C-section delivery,” his mm, Naomi Colley said.
“At 37 weeks I went to a midwife appointment and found out his heart rate dropped to 90 for three minutes and was raced to hospital.
“His heart rate levelled out again then while in hospital.
“While Ms Colley got out of bed to go to the bathroom, Rohan’s heart rate dropped again.
“But once I lied back down his heart rate went back to normal then I went into spontaneous labour while in hospital and had a contraction and his heartrate dropped again so had the C-section that night.
“He came out a beautiful and healthy baby boy weighing at 3.05kg.
“We’re very lucky to have some amazing doctors looking after us.”
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