Mid-North Coast NSW teen Auston Babula given six months to live as he awaits lifesaving heart and lung transplant

A teen whose heart was expected to fail soon after birth has now been given six months to live as he waits for a lifesaving heart and lung transplant. Here’s Auston’s brave story.

Auston Babula has been told he has about six months to live as he awaits lifesaving heart and lung transplant.

Time is running out for a brave Mid-North Coast teen whose heart was expected to fail him soon after birth.

Just short of his 18th birthday – and following a serious cardiac arrest – Auston Babula has been told he has just six months to live as he awaits a lifesaving heart and lung transplant.

Mum Skye Babula and her son Auston in hospital on Thursday.

The young Nambucca Heads man was born with several congenital heart conditions and just one lung on his left side, which encouraged his compromised heart to develop on the right side of his chest.

Auston Babula as a child.

Auston’s mother and fierce advocate Skye Babula was told she would not be taking him home alive from hospital after she gave birth in Bowral on the Southern Highlands. But the pair have been defying the odds ever since.

“They taught us CPR and sent us home,” Ms Babula said.

Auston has spent his life enduring major operations and cardiac arrests.

Auston in his earlier years.

As Ms Babula explains with unflinching honesty, attending Nambucca High became untenable for Auston by 2022, when he was in year 10.

The mental health of staff and fellow students was impacted by witnessing his repeated cardiac episodes.

“Students would think he was dead, and it was frightening seeing ambulances at the school,” Ms Babula said.

With his siblings and girlfriend Maddison by his side at their Valla Beach home, Auston was able to keep up with his learning – and gaming – online.

There were big plans afoot for a surprise 18th birthday party on October 19.

Auston Babula has endured a lifetime of life threatening medical episodes. This image was taken July this year, when he had another significant medical episode at home and was flown to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for two weeks.

But just a week before the big day, Auston suffered another major cardiac arrest and was flown to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, where he was told his heart was failing and he only had about half-a-year to live.

Specialists have been preparing Auston for a lifesaving heart and lung transplant.

Ms Babula has been told the donor needs to be a child because Auston has such a small frame due to his lifelong ill health.

Such an uncertain waiting game would terrify most people, but it’s something Ms Babula has been through before with her son.

Auston Babula with his girlfriend Maddison.

“I’ve been given a time limit before. I was told he would die after birth and now he’s 18 – you kind of feel like ‘that can’t be right’ – it’s a very strange space,” she said.

Auston is being pumped with drugs and resting in bed in preparation for a possible transplant, but spoke to this publication briefly about his situation.

Auston and his mum, his fiercest advocate, in a photo taken a couple of years ago.

“I don’t feel too scared or worried or anything – for me it’s just the normal,” he said.

Ms Babula is a community and domestic violence support worker and passionate about her work – but recently had to give it up to care for her son.

A family friend has launched a GoFundMe campaign. to support the family.

Auston Babula gets a visit from one of his best friends from Sawtell.

It took a lot of convincing to get Auston to agree to the campaign, according to Ms Babula.

Asked about fundraising, Auston said he felt it was “selfish” to ask people for financial aid, despite his battle.

“I’ve just always needed help and depended on people. I’ve always hated the whole fact of asking for help but I’ve had to put what I feel aside for my family,” he said.

His dad Luke, who also lives in Nambucca area, is a retained firefighter with Fire and Rescue NSW. Auston hopes to follow in his footsteps one day.

Got a news tip? Email: [e-mail]