My NICU Story – Norena & Zayn

Kia ora,
My name is Norena Tigafua, and I’m a proud mum to two beautiful boys my toddler Lucas, and my little fighter, Zayn. I’m writing to share a piece of our journey one I hope offers comfort, strength, or simply connection to another whanau navigating the NICU world.

In mid-2024, our family travelled from Melbourne to New Zealand for what we thought would be a short work trip. My fiancé had a contract at Auckland Airport, and I was just over three months pregnant. Our plan was simple: return to Australia at seven months with plenty of time to prepare for Zayns arrival, due December 19th. But on October 22nd, everything changed.

I began feeling strange pains and knew something wasn’t right. Not knowing the area, we drove straight to Auckland City Hospital, thinking it might just be Braxton Hicks. Within minutes of arriving, I was transferred to theatre Zayn was breech and in distress. Daniel was rushed into scrubs. I barely had time to breathe, let alone comprehend what was happening. At 31 weeks and 5 days, Zayn came into the world via emergency C-section tiny, fragile, and already so strong.

Unlike any other pregnancy, I didn’t see him right away. Daniel followed the doctors as they took Zayn, while I was wheeled into recovery. I couldn’t quite tell if it was my heart or my mind racing faster. I was worried, but I had all my trust in the hands of the team working to stabilise him.

Then reality hit:
No hospital bag. No cot. No baby clothes. No family with me. We were far from home. But there he was, giving me every reason to keep going. Everything moved quickly after that.
I found a rental in Papakura, not realising how far it was from the hospital. I hired a car, bought some furniture, and tried to create some kind of comfort. My parents flew in briefly, but had to return home. Eventually, Daniel flew back to Melbourne with Lucas to begin another contract. I stayed just me and Zayn.

Zayn was transferred from Auckland City to Middlemore Hospital NICU, where he stayed for almost five months. Every day, I made the long trip to be by his side sometimes staying overnight, sometimes coming and going. Daniel flew back on weekends, and Lucas stayed with me for a while too.

NICU life was its own world:

• The constant beeping of monitors
• Tubes, wires, oxygen
• Doctors delivering both hopeful and heartbreaking news
• Days where the smallest gain felt like a huge victory
• Nights I cried beside his cot, with nothing to offer but hope

I once watched a documentary where a mum said, The NICU is like a rollercoaster. And she was right.
Only this time, I was learning to parent again in a new country, away from family, with no one beside me but a little boy who taught me what true strength looked like. And then in the middle of all that came kindness.

The Little Miracles Trust reached out to us. They brought thoughtful gifts, soft moments, and gentle support. I’ll never forget the woman who came regularly to read to Zayn and once said, “You’re doing amazing, mum”. At the time, I didn’t feel amazing. I felt broken. But those words reminded me even in my loneliness, I was never truly alone.

Some moments will stay with me forever:

• The first time I held Zayn skin-to-skin
• The panic when his breathing dipped and alarms sounded
• Celebrating every extra gram of weight, every mL of milk
• And finally the day we were cleared to fly home with Zayn on oxygen, February 13th, 2025

Today, Zayn is healthy, happy, and thriving. But I will never forget where he began and how much he, and I, had to fight to get here.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart to the Little Miracles Trust and every nurse, doctor, and support person who helped us along the way. You made a difference in our lives maybe one Zayn won’t remember, but one I will always live to tell.

And to all the mums reading this from their NICU rooms:
This is not the journey any of us expected, but please know this;
You are not alone.
You are not invisible.
You are a warrior in every sense of the word.

Ng mihi nui,
Norena Tigafua
Mum to Zayn