Cooper Williams, Kenzi Navin-Ambrose, Khyson Wimble, Xavier Ranieri, Aria Sahgal overcome tough starts to life

The challenges of parenthood can arise even before a baby is conceived as some of these parents can attest. Here are their incredible stories of bringing a child into the world.

For some, the journey to parenthood is filled with challenges which can prove completely life changing.

Here are some of the most inspiring baby stories from the Northern Rivers.

Cooper Williams

Ballina parents Elissa, 43 and Grant Williams, 37, still can’t believe their luck every time they see their 23-month-old son Cooper’s smile.

The couple, who lived in Toowoomba before they relocated tot he Northern Rivers in 2020, said they lived through more than a decade of heartbreak as they battled seemingly endless infertility issues.

Mrs Williams said she and her husband felt incredibly fortunate every time they looked at their darling son.

“We struggled with infertility for 11 years, tried IVF and lost two pregnancies before we had Cooper,” Mrs Williams said.

“I came home from the doctor’s after finding out I was pregnant and gave Grant a parcel with pregnancy test and a white baby suit.

“He was so thrilled he jumped off the couch.”

Mrs Williams said one of the reasons she was happy to share their story was to encourage other parents to be positive.

“Infertility is such a hidden issue and want to give others hope,” she said.

“Cooper is so precious and we are so very happy.”

Elissa Williams and her husband Grant felt their chance of having a child had passed when their beloved son Cooper, now 23 months, was conceived.

Kenzi Navin-Ambrose

Devoted mum Kaila Burus, 26, said having her son Kenzi gave her the strength to find a better life.

And the Casino resident hopes other parents will follow her lead.

Kenzi Navin-Ambrose, now seven months, was born premature.

Ms Burus she said her son was “amazing”, and definitely punching way above his weight.

“Everything was normal with him during my pregnancy, just like with my first boy Marley who is two years old,” she said.

“But one morning seven months into the pregnancy I was very ill, (I) thought I was having a miscarriage.

“The ambulance took me to Lismore Base Hospital and I had a C-section straight up as he was not breathing and his heart had stopped.”

Ms Burus said her children gave her the courage to live the best life she could.

“My two boys, they are the lights of my life,” she said.

“I want other women to know that (if you) have courage, know there is a better life out there for you and your family.”

Kaila Burus says her son Kenzi Navin-Ambrose (right) and Marley Navin-Ambrose, 2, are the lights of her life.

Khyson Wimble

Kristin Wimble, 21, was absolutely thrilled when she gave birth to her beloved son Khyson.

”I had a very long and difficult labour,” she said.

“My mum drove me to Lismore Base Hospital and after a very intense and frightening 48 hours I was given an emergency caesarean.”

Ms Wimble said her son was rushed into the hospital’s special care nursery for more than two days before she able to take him home.

She said the traumatic birth left him with some breathing difficulties, “but he is a tough cookie and despite being a premmie, he has well and truly reached his milestones”.

Ms Wimble said her little boy, now nine months, was a constant delight.

“He has bright blue eyes, everyone falls in love with him,” she said.

“Khyson has lovely skin with a birthmark across his right ribs which wraps around his back and I feel this reflects his tough entry into the world.

“Every day I cherish every moment that he got here safely.”

Ms Wimble said she met her partner Jackson Dawe, 24, when her son was three months old.

“Jackson is a great dad and adores our little boy,” she said.

When Khyson Wimble was born, his mum Kristin said he faced some tough challenges, but the nine-month-old boy is now thriving.

Xavier Jayden Ranieri

For Lismore’s Josie Conlan, the birth of her son Xavier Jayden Ranieri was a reminder that life went on and happiness could be found, even after tragedy.

Ms Conlan said she discovered she was pregnant shortly after a double tragedy involving the death of two close friends in separate car crashes.

“I was having a really hard time as in my friendship group we lost two of our friends in car accidents late 2020,” she said.

“The friends were part of the Marist Brothers Rugby League Club and I went to primary school with one friend and to high school with the other.

“So Xavier has been an enormous comfort to me.”

Ms Conlan said her son’s arrival nine weeks ago was an incredible joy.

“I was on the pill so this was unexpected,” she said with a smile.

“But what a blessing Xavier is, I love him so much.”

Ms Conlan said Xavier was a beautiful reminder of her friends.

She said she and partner Jayden Ranieri were so happy with their son.

“Xavier is a beautiful reminder to be positive,” she said.

Josie Conlan said she and partner Jayden Ranieri discovered she was pregnant with their son Xavier shortly after the tragic deaths of two friends rocked their community.

Aria Rose Sahgal

A complicated pregnancy for nurse Tess Sahgal which included being flown to Queensland for urgent medical treatment has made the birth of daughter Aria Rose even more precious.

Mrs Sahgal, 21, said 18-month-old Aria Rose was a loved baby sister to Zara, 10 and daughter to her husband, emergency doctor Iri Saghal, 40.

A range of serious health and medical complications, including infection, meant Mrs Sahgal at one stage needed to flown to hospital to receive lifesaving treatment.

“I always said I would not care if our baby cried every night because we were told so many so many times to prepare ourselves for the worst,” she said.

“At one stage the obstetrics team told me ‘we may have to pick between you or the baby and I said, pick the baby’, as any mother would.

“They flew me to Gold Coast University Hospital after our doctor said, ‘no time for a road ambulance, we've called the heli’.”

Ms Sahgal gave birth on February 13, 2020, “just before lockdown”.

“I am super grateful as the whole experience was just horrible, but we got lucky and I know not everyone gets that outcome.”

Tess and Iri Sahgal visit the Westpac Rescue Helicopter’s Lismore headquarters to thank the team for helping them while Mrs Sahgal was pregnant with daughter Aria Rose Sahgal.

Sarah Joy Potter

Wardell parents Amanda Potter, 27 and Jesse Potter, 23, have weathered several storms since the birth of their eight-month-old daughter Sarah Joy.

Mrs Potter said she endured post-natal depression occurred shortly after Sarah’s arrival, which was five weeks premature.

“We had been married almost two years when we found out we were pregnant, it was a surprise as we didn’t know if I could have children,” she said.

“Everything was going great, but then I was really sick and had Sarah at 35 weeks.

She said she had been “doing really well” after the birth.

“Jesse is a great dad, then I came undone,” she said.

“So I reached out and got a referral to the Brisbane Centre for Post Natal Disorders, part of Belmont Private Hospital at Carina.

“The staff and facilities are incredible and they teach how to reconnect with your child and gain confidence as a mum.”

Mrs Potter said she started TheVillageBallina on Instagram to reach out to other parents facing similar mental health issues.

“We named our girl Sarah Joy as she’s brought so much joy us.”