When Sarah and Andrew welcomed their son James into the world at Mater Mothers’ on 16 August 2022, he weighed just 691 grams. Born 16 weeks early (24 weeks and 4 days), James was very small, but he was fiercely determined.
After losing a baby at 19 weeks and facing multiple miscarriages, Sarah underwent a cervical stitch early in pregnancy to give James the best chance. At just 22 weeks, she felt something wasn’t right. She was transferred to Mater Mothers’ and placed on bed rest as her membranes began pushing through the stitch.
Doctors hoped to keep James safe inside for as long as possible. Every day counted. Every hour mattered.
At 24+4 weeks, James arrived- born not breathing and needing urgent resuscitation. Sarah and Andrew had been prepared for the realities: James had a 70% chance of survival and a 1 in 5 chance of disability.
Across 124 days in Mater’s Neonatal Critical Care Unit, James fought through collapsed lungs, infections, hernias, multiple blood transfusions and countless breathing challenges.
Today, James is a thriving toddler with no long‑term health concerns.
“We thank Mater every day for our little miracle,” Sarah says.
