Rachael, who’d been told she might never be able to become a mother, couldn’t wait to hold her baby in her arms. But when little Ruby was born, she wasn’t breathing and was rushed into a life-saving incubator.
Rachael and her husband Ben could barely see Ruby through the wires and monitors, let alone touch her.
For the next 100 days, she was in Mater’s Neonatal Critical Care Unit where the doctors, nurses and specialists battled to save her.
She survived one crisis after another, until she began to stabilise.
Rachael and Ben saw at close quarters how dedicated Mater's medical team are.
Thanks to the care she received, little Ruby grew stronger, until she was ready to go home. A short time later she came back to Mater—this time to visit her baby sister Zoe, who was also born prematurely.


Premature and seriously ill babies like Ruby and Zoe may need life-saving equipment such as ventilators and heart monitors during their stay in critical care.
Mater's doctors and nurses work around the clock to help babies like Ruby and Zoe. They will be there ready for any crisis, and they need your help.

