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The Little Miracles Trust is Aotearoa New Zealand’s national neonatal charity. We’re here to help
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Hand in hand at seven weeks, the twins fighting for life
Born 13 weeks early, these twin baby girls spent their first seven weeks apart as they battled to survive. But this is the heartwarming moment they were finally reunited as they were put side by side in the same incubator - and immediatley reached out to hold hands. Lily and Grace Johnstone, from the United…
Luke and Brielle's Story
The morning of New Year’s Day 2004, I woke to find a lot of blood surrounding me. My husband Brendon and I rushed to Palmerston North Hospital and were soon told that our baby was on the way! What? I was only at 23weeks and 5 days; the only chance he had to survive was…
Breastfeeding our Prem – Larina's Story
This story is written by Larina, Eli's Mum. You can read Eli's story here. I decided to write our breastfeeding story as an encouragement to those walking a similar path. I had breastfed two full-term babies before our third boy arrived extremely premature. I would never have foreseen how big an impact four months in…
Mum believes Mr Tickle book saved daughter's life
Meet the baby girl who was saved from a life-threatening condition by a Mr Men book. Tiny Ava Allen, from the UK, wasn't expected to survive after been born 14 weeks premature with a rare lung condition, and needed an emergency operation to stand any chance of pulling through. Doctors warned her 20-year old Mum…
100 Days: Stunning photos of the first 100 days of a premature babies life
Newborn babies are well photographed, parents share images of their precious little ones, capturing memories and marking milestones. For the parents of Lenny Harrison in the UK, who weighed just 1lb (450grams), photographs were used to document moments from his first 100 days as he battled for life. These powerful, moving and captivating photos taken each day…
Micro-premmies face big battles in life
Just over a decade ago, Canadian Kate Robson and her husband Sean Jensen were discussing baby names. If it was a girl, they would name her Margaret Lis after both our mothers. "It was our first baby, we were very excited. What a great way to honour our own mothers," Robson called. But when she…
One Nurse Re-imagines the Precious Neonatal Babies She Cares For
One nurse re-imagines the precious neonatal babies she cares for. Nurse Jessica Wright from America spends her days caring for peaceful looking patients, but she knows the babies in her neonatal intensive care unit are quietly fighting a battle for their lives. However, that doesn't stop her and her fellow nurses from imagining the bright…
Little goals, big miracles for heart-transplant baby
When a mother has seen her premature baby fight for his life, undergo a heart transplant and spend more days in the hospital than at home, she stops seeking peace of mind. She accepts that caring for her sick child means worrying all the time. So she seeks solace in the small, quiet moments. Born…
"Tesco saved both my babies"
After both her children were born prematurely, Emma Blakey from the United Kingdom says she has the supermarket chain Tesco to thank for them both being alive and well. "A nurse told me that the freezer bag kept her warm and safe and made her feel like she was back in the womb" said Emma. …
Marla Sokoloff’s Blog: Sharing Olive’s (Early!) Birth Story
On 13 March, celebrity blogger Marla Sokoloff welcomed her second child, Olive Mae, at 34 weeks. Audiences first got to know Marla at age 12 as Gia on Full House, but she has had many memorable TV roles — Jody on Party of Five, Lucy on The Practice, Claire on Desperate Housewives — as well as turns on the big screen…
Book: "Waiting for Emma: A Brother's Story: (For Siblings and Families in the NICU)"
This book, written by American author Danielle Leibovici, is written and illustrated specifically for families whose baby is in a NICU. "Adam’s baby sister, Emma, came a few weeks early. She is now getting treatment in the Neonatal intensive Care Unit. Adam’s life has changed. His parents’ lives have changed. There are many new adjustments…
Wayne Carey: newborn daughter born 10 week premature
AFL legend and Channel 7 commentator Wayne Carey opens up about his personal fears and worries for his premature daughter Charlotte who was born at just 29 weeks. Struggling to breathe through underdeveloped lungs and battling an infection, Carey watched his daughter make a full recovery. Watch the family's story here and read more about…