Leo and Archie McKenzie new faces of Gold Coast Hospital Foundation’s Christmas Appeal

Leo and Archie McKenzie spent their first Christmas in hospital - now they’re helping other sick little babies. Here’s how you can, too.

AS THEY celebrate their third Christmas it’s hard to imagine twins Leo and Archie McKenzie were ever two very sick little boys.

The two-year-old duo were born 13 weeks early, spending Christmas 2017 in hospital during their 110-day stay in Gold Coast University Hospital.

It was a painful time for dad Russell and mum Kelly, who said the boys were born weighing just over 2000 grams combined.

GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS: $5 PER MONTH FOR THE FIRST 3 MONTHS

The boys are now celebrating Christmas at home. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

They missed their first Christmas. Photo: Supplied

“For us it was almost like a numbing experience, because you’re propelled into a situation that’s so foreign to what you know,” she said.

“It can be tremendously overwhelming to the point where some people can’t even palate the thought of going into (the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) because it’s so much to see a baby so fragile, so sick.”

OTHER NEWS

Young LNP head’s racial slur against Chinese

VIDEO: Skipper’s dance on boat the night of sex romp

Coast cafe facing legal action over casual staff pay

Leo and Archie finally came home after more than three months in the unit, and have since passed “milestone after milestone”.

The mischievous pair are now the face of the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation’s Christmas Appeal, which this year hopes to provide lifesaving equipment for the NICU and Special Care Nursery.

They were born 13 weeks early. Photo: Supplied

It’s the same equipment Kelly said let her know they were going to be okay.

“Every milestone we make is one less appointment at the hospital, is one more word, one more step ahead that for a long time we couldn’t even imagine,” she said.

To donate and to see the full NICU wish list visit gchfoundation.org.au/donate.