Emily Kate always dreamed of becoming a mum, but her doctors told her it might be difficult for her to fall pregnant.
She and her partner Keenan were overjoyed when they found out they would welcome a baby girl.
But six months later, Emily Kate felt sharp pains and was rushed to Mater Mothers' Hospital.
Lilly Kate was born 14 weeks premature by emergency caesarean weighing just 800 grams—less than a loaf of bread.
She was immediately rushed into Mater’s Neonatal Critical Care Unit (NCCU) for the help she needed to survive.
Hours later, Emily Kate finally met her little girl briefly for the first time. Lilly Kate was being kept alive in a temperature-controlled bed called a ’Giraffe bed’.
“I just got to see my baby’s mouth, and I heard her little squeal before she was taken away,” Emily Kate, her mum, said.
Hours later, Emily Kate finally met her little girl for the first time. She managed to reach out and touched her little foot. Lilly Kate was being kept alive in a temperature-controlled bed called a ’Giraffe bed’.
Two long, scary days passed before they would have their first cuddle. Emily Kate remembered:
“It was the most emotional thing I’ve ever done in my life. It was so scary just having her on my chest because she was so tiny and was connected to all these little cables. But it was so special. I held her for about two-and-a-half hours.”
Lilly Kate still has a lot of challenges ahead. But she is getting stronger day after day.
Her mum is hopeful that her little warrior will soon be big enough for her newborn clothes. Her family can’t wait to finally be together and to celebrate Lilly Kate’s first Christmas.
As Emily Kate reflects:
“My baby hit rock bottom but she fought through thanks to her Giraffe bed and the wonderful nurses around her constantly. Without those beds and that care, babies like mine wouldn’t survive."
Baby Lilly Kate pulled through thanks to the extraordinary care of Mater, and big-hearted people like you. But more sick and tiny babies will be rushed into our NCCU this Christmas.
Will you please donate today to help purchase life-changing equipment for our tiniest and most fragile patients?
Help babies like Lilly Kate this Christmas
