Hayley Milburn: Mum’s battle after brain aneurysm, six surgeries

A heartbroken father is ‘scarred for life’ after watching his wife suffer a brain aneurysm nine days after giving birth to their third child. The Tassie baker is now juggling two young children and a newborn as he holds onto hope their mum wakes up.

Howrah mum-of-three Hayley Milburn with baby daughter Eden, who was born nine days before she suffered a stroke and brain aneurysm. Picture: GoFundMe

A Tasmanian husband says he will remember his wife’s screams for the “rest of my life” after she suffered a brain aneurysm and stroke nine days after giving birth to their third child.

Howrah woman Hayley Milburn, an office administrator with Nu-Jet, has since undergone six surgeries and remains heavily sedated and intubated in Royal Hobart Hospital’s intensive care unit, husband Mickey, a baker, told the Mercury.

Hayley began suffering headaches three days after giving birth to their youngest daughter, Eden, Mickey said.

“She thought it was pregnancy related, but all of a sudden (on February 22) she had this full-on headache come on, she was screaming at the top of her lungs, saying how scared she was. I’ll remember it for the rest of my life,” he said.

Luckily, Hayley’s mum Robyn Mills, a nurse, was present and was able to calm her daughter, who became unconscious, while Mickey called triple-0.

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“Her breathing was really laboured, she was really white and her body really cold and clammy. It was pretty full on and scary,” he said.

Another saving grace was that the pair’s other two children, aged seven and four, weren’t home to hear Hayley’s screams.

Howrah husband-and-wife Hayley and Mickey Milburn. Picture: Facebook

“It probably would have scarred them for life. It scarred me for life,” Mickey said.

Hayley underwent several operations upon admission to the ICU, but on Thursday her condition worsened once more.

“She had constant high temperatures, high blood-pressure and increased heart rates. Doctors and nurses couldn’t figure out what was going on – they suggested it was an infection. Today (Thursday), they operated to remove her drain to install a new one, with many risks including the unthinkable. That all went fine,” Mickey said.

“After looking at scans, specialists noticed some of Hayley’s blood vessels have collapsed, which is causing her many problems and not allowing her to heal.

“They then operated again, going back into the brain and inserting a stent to open up the valves.

“She is now back in ICU, heavily sedated and intubated. Unfortunately we are back at square one.”

Mickey, who has another couple of weeks of paternity leave and one week of annual leave up his sleeve before the family’s finances face the abyss, said his three kids were the only thing getting him through this dark time.

“I’m trying to keep things as normal as possible for kids. They are unaware of the severity of what’s going on. My newborn (now four weeks old), she’s kept my head above water. I’ve got no choice. It’s just your duty as a parent,” Mickey said.

The eldest two think their mum is back in hospital with a tummy ache.

The young family’s future path is now paved with uncertainty.

“It’s hard to say as well what damage has happened. Hayley might not be able to walk properly, she might not be able to drive,” Mickey said.

An online fundraiser for the Milburns, hosted by her aunt Glenys Casboult, has raised more than $14,000 at the time of writing.

“We wish more than anything that she is back to her usual bubbly self, home with her children and the love of her life in no time at all,” Ms Casboult said.

“Hayley, you are so loved.”

Originally published as Hayley Milburn: Mum’s battle after brain aneurysm, six surgeries