He is a broad man, bearded with a smile that cracks through a tough exterior, but deep down the Bondi dad carries the experience with him every day that reminds him why Father’s Day is so special.

While he and wife Leah remark that they are the lucky ones who have a happy ending to their birth story, after Ellis was born 12 weeks before his due date, Elliot recalled the painful months of uncertainty before finally there was light at the end of the tunnel.

He has paid tribute to the staff at Randwick’s Royal Hospital for Women, describing them as his “guardian angels” without whom his family’s story may have had a tragically different ending.

Elliot recalls how the team “moved heaven and earth” to save their boy.

“They are some of the nicest people I have ever met in my life,” he said.

“How they keep themselves happy, after trying to keep you happy with smiles and reassurance, I don’t know.”

Wife Leah explains that from week 20 things were “really touch and go” after doctors located two haematomas, kicking-off a months-long stint in hospital, and leaving Elliot in charge of taking care of their four-year-old daughter, Alba.

By week 28, her waters had broken and at week 30 Ellis was born.

Leah says wryly that during her experience she had been in every part of the hospital.

From delivery to emergency, the surgery theatre, early foetal care, antenatal and post-natal wards — she got the full tour.

For Elliot though, there is one room in particular that he will never forget; neonatal service level three.

“There were blue lights, people crying and stuff,” he said.

“(During the birth) I said ‘keep looking at me’ because he wasn’t breathing.

“And then he goes straight into a plastic box, we can’t touch him, he was blue and he had blue lights on him to make him grow.

“We are the lucky ones, some babies never came home.”

The days that followed were a rollercoaster.

The doctor would come in and say there was no chance, the next day another would remark that Ellis, in fact, was doing quite well.

“It gave us great joy to leave that room, but it would have been tough if that was our first one … we knew what was destined for us, the sun sets and we got to drive away.”

Elliot is sharing the details of the harrowing journey the family went on in the hope it could help other couples — especially dads — in similar situations, recalling how he “tried not to break down” during the ordeal.

But Elliot is adamant, despite the pain and weeks of not knowing whether Ellis would pull through, that he would not change a thing.

“Never,” Elliot said.

“I would not have had it any other way … it has made me a better father and a more supportive husband.

“It was educational because I learned first-hand what role a woman plays in a relationship and at home … it brought me closer to my daughter and it reminds me every day why I love my wife so much.

“When a baby comes a man normally struggles because you’re not needed and that’s tough because he (the baby) is on the boob, but I knew my role.”

This Father’s Day, Elliot is looking forward to a belly full of beer at the RSL, chips, nachos but most importantly knowing he can take his daughter to swimming lessons without having to worry about “what might have been”.

Meredith Ward, a senior neonatologist at the hospital, is one of several top medical professionals who worked around the clock to ensure Ellis had the best care.

From reassuring the family to essentially keeping several newborns alive at the same time, every day can be a challenge at the neonatal intensive care unit.

Each year the Royal Hospital for Women’s NICU cares for close to 1000 premature and critically-ill babies.

“From a medical point of view its really huge, its momentous to be born so early,” Ms Ward told the Wentworth Courier.

“You’re committed to two months in hospital setting and even needing breathing and feeding support, having regular check-ups done and finding out that everything is going smoothly.

“A parent will often be very surprised about what is happening, it can be a frightening and traumatic experience for them.”

But, adds Ms Ward: “We walk into these scenarios confident the baby will do well and our expectation is that they will go home healthy.

“I think all of us love the work we do we do, we’re a very unified team, I’m working with very caring and motivating people they’re an absolute delight”.

Although she treats so many bubs who had the odds stacked against them, she recalls the Crisell family immediately.

“With Leah’s baby there was a lot of time to get to know the parents,” Ms Ward said.

“It’s beautiful to know they felt we were keeping their baby (Ellis) safe.”

News tips? Email: anton.rose@news.com.au

IN OTHER NEWS