Signature Sourdough James and Emma Brown’s newborn fights for life

Cooloola Cove small business owners have had their lives rocked as their premature-born newborn baby boy remains in hospital while it is too risky for him to be operated on.

Signature Sourdough owners James and Emma Brown have had their life upended after their second child was born at 28 weeks gestation and fights for his life as doctors wait for him to grow before they perform open heart surgery to close his PDA heart murmur. Picture: Supplied

The Cooloola Coast community is rallying behind a family as their newborn is in the fight of his young life after being born premature.

Emma and James Brown’s second child Zeke remains in hospital as doctors wait for him to grow big enough to operate on his heart murmur.

Zeke was born weighing 1.35kg at Sunshine Coast University Hospital in October at 28 weeks gestation, a little brother to two-year-old Jasper.

But his start to life hasn’t been easy, with the family having to relocate to be closer to doctors as they wait for a life-saving surgery.

The family’s business - Signature Sourdough - has also been put on hold from regularly attending markets at Tin Can Bay, Rainbow Beach, Gympie and the Noosa hinterland.

Zeke, which means “God strengthens”, has a PDA heart murmur, where a heart and lung artery duct, which usually closes at birth, remains open, filling his lungs with fluid and threatening his life.

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James and Emma Brown with their baby boy Zeke who was born premature at Sunshine Coast University Hospital. Picture: Supplied

On Wednesday, November 22, he was moved to the Royal Brisbane Hospital to be under more specialised care, where the doctors are watching and monitoring him, hesitant to operate until he grows out of a risk zone.

“They said that it’s a really rare case, where he’s growing bigger, but these problems aren’t getting any better,” Mr Brown said.

“He’s too small to do surgery and they have to do open heart surgery at this stage.”

The whole family have needed to relocate to Brisbane, with Mrs Brown watching Zeke, and Mr Brown caring for Jasper.

It may not be until after Christmas before doctors feel confident Zeke will survive the open heart surgery, unless his body develops and closes the duct.

“Whether we’re back in a month or three, it’s sort of undetermined and we’ve got a bit of a road ahead of us as well, when the baby does come home,” Mr Brown said.

James and Emma Brown have put their business on hold while caring for their premature baby boy Zeke. Picture: Supplied

The next couple of years Zeke will need care and treatment at Sunshine Coast University Hospital, a two-hour trip from their home at Cooloola Cove.

“We’re going to have to relocate down to the Sunshine Coast,” Mr Brown said.

They have closed their home-based bakery business for now but have some optimism reserved for the future, to either find a bakery to bake from or move their small business to their next home.

For now they are biding their time, waiting for Zeke to grow each day.

“Life is suffering, life is chaos in order, we know that,” Mr Brown said.

“We’re just moving through the storm to the other end where it is going to be great.”

If you would like to donate to help the family visit the GoFundMe here.

Originally published as Signature Sourdough James and Emma Brown’s newborn fights for life