Property developer Matt Hluszko and poodle bring smiles to Mater Mothers’ Hospital
A Brisbane property developer and his dog are ‘lifting spirits’ of expectant mothers at the Mater Mothers’ Hospital after his wife’s nine week stay at the hospital.
Brisbane property developer Matt Hluszko, 35, and four-year-old teacup poodle Daisy are bringing smiles to hundreds of pregnant women awaiting the arrival of their babies at the Mater Mothers’ Hospital in South Brisbane.
Mr Hluszko started volunteering at the hospital a month ago after his wife Emma spent more than two months there before their son Alexander was born.
Emma Hluszko had suffered from placenta praevia, which is when the placenta stays low in the uterus during pregnancy and blocks the cervix partially or entirely and was cared for in the long-stay ward at the hospital for about nine weeks before Alexander arrived three weeks early in March.
Mr Hluszko said the team at Mater were absolutely fantastic.
“Everyone is busy these days, but I thought if I can give back a little bit to assist even one person, that would be incredible,” Mr Hluszko said.
“We have very busy lives, holidays planned, but overall, this is something I love doing.
“I think if anyone can spend two hours volunteering, why not?
“Everyone who meets Daisy is smitten with her.”
Expectant mother Aman Sagu from West End met Mr Hluszko, and Daisy said her “spirits were lifted” after interacting with the teacup poodle.
“It’s hour by hour for me”, Mrs Sagu said
“I’m 32 weeks pregnant with pre-eclampsia and waiting for my son, who has foetal growth restriction, to arrive”.
Mr Hluszko inherited Daisy from his mother after she passed away, and he has another connection to the Mater Mothers’ with his aunty Tracey O’Connor working as a nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for the past 30 years.
“I’ve always heard stories about what my aunty does. Being able to give back to the same hospital she works at and where my son was born is rewarding,” he said.
Originally published as Property developer Matt Hluszko and poodle bring smiles to Mater Mothers’ Hospital
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