Former Swans star Gary Rohan and wife find solace after losing baby girl

Just over a year after losing one of their twin daughters, ­former Sydney Swans star Gary Rohan and his wife Amie have found comfort with a move back to their home state of Victoria.

• Rohan ready for a fresh start

Just over a year after losing one of their twin daughters, ­former Sydney Swans star Gary Rohan and his wife Amie have found comfort ahead of this Mother’s Day with a move back to their home state of Victoria.

The couple, who grew up in Cobden, west of Geelong, spent almost a decade in Sydney where Rohan starred for the Swans and they welcomed twin girls Bella and Willow, in April 2018.

Willow was diagnosed with anencephaly during Ms Rohan’s pregnancy — an incurable terminal condition where babies are born with an underdeveloped brain and incomplete skull — and passed away just hours after being born.

Ms Rohan said commemorating the girls’ birth last month with a combined one year birthday party for Bella and a remembrance day for Willow had helped her with the healing process ahead of Mother’s Day.

Amie Rohan and daughter Bella. Picture: Jason Edwards

“Last year was hard; Bella was not even a month old, it was my first week out of hospital,” she said.

“I think I made it my mission to get out of bed and go out for breakfast — going in to this Mother’s Day is a lot different.

“Having the girls’ first birthday celebrations and remembrance day was important in my healing. It will still be another day of reflection on what we have gone through, but I am looking forward to it.

“There is nothing better than being acknowledged for being a mother.”

Earlier this month Rohan paid tribute to Willow, saying his daughter was a “fighter”.

Sydney's Gary Rohan. Picture: Toby Zerna

Ms Rohan, 25, said she was initially apprehensive about moving back to the Victorian ­regional town, but added that she had been humbled by the welcome the family received from her husband’s new club, Geelong, and the community.

“I was really nervous about coming back here,” she said.

“I was a shy little 16-year-old when Gary first got drafted to Sydney and it took me a long time to build relationships.

“We had such an emotional time last year, and I just felt like that was our support system and I wondered how I was ever going to go to a new place and build relationships again.

“But it’s been nothing short of amazing and I think its showing how happy we are.”

Ms Rohan, who met her high school sweetheart when the pair were playing football and netball at the same regional club, says the family have ­settled back into the Geelong community.

Sydney Swans player Gary Rohan with wife Aime with their new born daughters Bella.

“I think having such a close-knit group of women at the club has helped,” she said.

“It’s crazy to think I was ever so nervous about coming back.

“I feel like we have never been away.

“We are in our house now and I said to Gary the other day, ‘how did we ever live in an apartment?’.”

Amie Rohan and daughter Bella. Picture: Jason Edwards

Sydney Swans player Gary Rohan and his wife Amie.