NBA star Ben Simmons races home to Melbourne to be with niece

NBA superstar Ben Simmons has dashed back to Melbourne to be with his niece who has been diagnosed with a rare condition.

MELBOURNE-born NBA superstar Ben Simmons has flown back to Australia to be with his ill niece.

Pictures of Simmons, the newly-crowned NBA rookie of the year, cuddling two-week-old Savannah, was shared by his sister Olivia Simmons on social media yesterday.

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Ben Simmons meets his sister’s baby Savannah Alice Simmons. Picture: Liv Simmons Twitter.

Ms Simmons said her daughter Savannah had been diagnosed with a rare brain condition.

In a tweet she said that immediately after the nine-minute labour doctors knew there was an issue. A series of tests revealed Savannah had a vein of Galen malformation. The rare condition is a blood vessel abnormality in the brain.

Despite the diagnosis, Ms Simmons tweeted that she would maintain “positive energy” and was confident of her newborn’s recovery.

“On June 19 at 7.27pm I gave birth to my beautiful daughter Savannah Alice Simmons. Was a nine minute delivery and things went really well.

“We immediately realised there was something wrong and to cut a long story short Savvy was diagnosed with Vein of Galen Malformation, a very rare, sometimes undetectable (before birth) brain condition.”

“Savvy is a beautiful smaller version of me, always hungry and is satisfied after a feed. Very happy baby with a small struggle (at the) start of a long happy life.”

Liv Simmons’ tweet.

Ms Simmons said her daughter’s condition had been a rollercoaster but said shutting herself down was the worst thing she could possibly do.

“This journey has been so up and down but THANKYOU so much for all your prayers. Good days and bad it will all be worth it when savvy is completely happy and healthy.”

Ben Simmons in action for the Philadelphia 76ers. Drew Hallowell/Getty Images/AFP

Touchingly, on the day Melbourne-native Simmons won NBA rookie of the year on June 26, Ms Simmons tweeted that her daughter had improved.

“What an amazingly positive day, Savannah’s stats are up, ben won rookie of the year and my mind is in a really good place,” she tweeted.

The NBA star has five brothers and sisters — four from his mother’s earlier marriage. The Box Hill basketball export made Australian sporting history last week when he was named the best first year player in the NBA.

His Philadelphia 76ers team bowed out in the second round of the NBA finals in May.

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