Meet the inspiring Sydney kids who’ve overcome illness and injury

From tiny babies in the NICU, to teens beating cancer and overcoming major injuries – meet the inspiring children who have an extra reason to celebrate this Christmas.

Christmas came early for one Sydney couple this year, in the form of two gorgeous presents weighing 1.5 and 2.7 kilos.

Twins Romeo and Mimi were born on December 10, six weeks before their due date, and on Friday, their parents Ollie Bracewell and Monica Rosa Morata held them both together for the first time since they were born.

“It’s a very special moment,” their mum said through tears.

While Mimi, the “little fighter” as her dad calls her, is thriving in the NICU at The Royal Women’s Hospital, Romeo gave his parents a big scare at just two days old.

While he was the bigger of the two babies, Romeo was found to have a small hole in his bowel, which required surgery just 48 hours into his little life.

Monica Rosa Morata and Ollie Bracewell with twins Romeo (left) and Mimi (right).

“He wasn’t looking how I thought he’d look because in the womb he was kicking and going mental,” Mr Bracewell said.

“But when he came out he was lethargic and not what we were expecting.

“It happened kind of rapidly from there and I just remember seeing 10 different doctors coming in and out, checking on him and looking concerned.

“We were terrified. Just in a state of shock.”

The wait for their tiny baby’s surgery was the “longest three hours” the couple had ever experienced, but relief washed over them when doctors said it had all gone well.

Mimi and Romeo are getting stronger each day, and while their first Christmas will be spent in the NICU, it’s the most special Christmas their parents have ever had.

Romeo and Mimi were born six weeks early. Picture: Rohan Kelly

“All that matters is that they are happy and healthy and that Monica is doing well,” Mr Bracewell said.

“Moni is incredible. I’m so proud of her, she’s our hero.”

NICUs and children’s wards around the state have been decorated with tinsel and trees for the children too sick to spend Christmas at home, with Santa delivering presents to their bedsides, and nurses taking extra care of their worried parents.

At Westmead and Randwick, the nurses transform into elves on Christmas Eve, wearing festive scrubs and working with the big man in red to ensure a present is left at the end of every child’s bed on Christmas morning.

But there are children like 17-year-old Jireh Pualilo who have made it home just in time for Christmas — and with a clean bill of health.

For seven long months, he sat in a hospital bed, being tested and treated for cancer.

When he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia at just 16 years old, Jireh was in “complete shock”, having noticed nothing more than some pain in his hip.

Normal life stopped and ward C2 West inside The Children’s Hospital at Randwick became his new home.

For the 200-plus days he spent in treatment, he wondered if he would graduate from high school, or even see the end of the year.

“When I first got the news I wasn’t sad, I was just in shock, because I was 16 years old, you just don’t see that coming,” he said.

Jireh Pualilo celebrates the end of his cancer treatment with his friends. Picture: Nikki Short

His mum Tanya remembers the day they received the news — and it’s something she can’t think about without tears welling in her eyes.

“It was torture, as a parent it was the most difficult time,” she said.

“There was so much uncertainty, and so much time sitting in the hospital, helpless and watching him suffer. It was horrible.”

Jireh had four intense cycles of chemotherapy and suffered several complications, which led to stints in the intensive care unit.

But on Tuesday, just a week before Christmas, his “wish and miracle” finally arrived in the form of a shiny, gold bell.

Jireh and his mum Tanya during his treatment. Picture: Supplied

In front of his family and dozens of school friends, he rang the bell and chimes that signified the end of his treatment – and start of remission – rang out.

“Without my family and friends I really don’t think I would be here today,” he told The Sunday Telegraph.

“This is like an early Christmas gift, it’s amazing.”

Around 50 children aged up to 14 are diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in Australia every year, and while Jireh made it home in time for Christmas, his mum is thinking of all the children who didn’t.

“For me to see him normal, back to his beautiful self, it’s the best feeling,” Mrs Pualilo said.

“But while we celebrate our amazing news, we pray for the children and parents who are still here, for those who are still sick.”

Asked what’s next now that he’s in remission, Jireh had a very simple answer: “Live.”

Jireh rings the end-of-treatment bell. Picture: Nikki Short

After 120 days in hospital, Abbey Kohler also made it home in time to spend Christmas with her family.

On July 4, the Kohler family’s lives were turned upside down when the baby of the family, 15-year-old Abbey, was critically injured in a car accident in Sydney’s southwest.

She was flown to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, where she was intubated and placed in an induced coma. Her pelvis was fractured, her spinal cord injured, and she suffered nerve damage affecting her hands and legs.

The sporty teen was initially unable to move her right leg and it was thought she might not walk again — a crushing thought for her mum Rochelle.

Abbey Kohler was released from hospital just in time for Christmas, after spending more than 120 days at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“When we got the call from our other daughter that they had been in an accident, and that Abbey was really hurt … it was just horrible. Really horrible,” Rochelle said.

“I stayed in the hospital for four months with her, so it was very hard to see her in so much pain for so long.

“She had some very dark days but it never stopped her moving forward. She just pushed and pushed.”

For almost five months, Abbey underwent extensive rehabilitation, and had to retrain her body to eat and swallow.

She recently regained movement in her right leg, allowing her to start walking again.

“She was actually shocked and surprised when her physio said to her this week that ‘you’re too good for the walking frame’,” Mrs Kohler said.

“She has the goal now to be able to walk around more further distances without getting so fatigued.

“We are just so proud of her.”

Abbey Kohler undergoing rehabilitation during her lengthy stay in hospital. Picture: Supplied

Abbey was finally released from hospital last month, and her first night back at home is one of the best gifts she could receive this Christmas.

“Just dinner with everyone, being at home and knowing that I don’t have to make the trek back to hospital that weekend was really special,” she said.

“Having some routine again and just doing normal things like shopping with mum has actually been fun.”

Health Minister Ryan Park said the “inspiring” stories of Abbey, Jireh, Romeo and Mimi were a reminder of how dedicated our healthcare workers were.

“These stories are an inspiring reminder of the amazing work of our hospital staff and clinicians, but also the courage and fighting spirit of our patients, big and small,” he said.

“It’s heartwarming to know that some of these patients will be home with family in time for the holiday season.”

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Originally published as Meet the inspiring Sydney kids who’ve overcome illness and injury