Ash The Brave

Hi everyone!

My name is Christie and I have the incredible honour of being mum to Ash Henry...the most amazing little man you'll ever meet!

Ash was born extremely early at 27 weeks and 2 days weighing just 867 grams or 1 pound 9 ounces. As a micro-preemie he has had to face so many challenges and fought so hard to stay with us! There were so many times my husband and I were terrified we wouldn't get to bring our boy home...but Ash never gave up and earnt his nickname Ash The Brave! In his short life Ash has so far over come a hole in his heart (a PDA), a brain bleed, 11 blood infections, kidney failure, a bowel obstruction, bilateral collapsed lungs, retinopathy of prematurity, bilateral inguinal hernias and severe lung disease. He has also been diagnosed with PVL (or Periventricular Leukomalacia)...a type of brain damage that commonly occurs with extreme prematurity.

Ash is now 3.3kgs and still requiring high pressure CPAP to breath due to severe lung disease. He has been in hospital over 13 weeks and will stay in hospital for several more weeks to come till he can breath on his own, drink a bottle (at the moment he's still tube feed), maintain his temperature and gain weight.

Understandably, Ashs premature entrance into the world has had a massive financial impact on us as his Mum and Dad and the strain continues as Ash remains in Sydney...500kms from his home in Dubbo.

The past 13 weeks we have relied on our savings and family so I could stay with Ash, while his Dad travels backwards and forwards to Dubbo each week just to see myself and Ash while remaining the sole bread winner for us. As of this week my amazing husband has driven over 13,000kms since Ash's birth.

My husband and I are extremely proud people but to stay with, and to help our son in the challenges to come...we need help. We know Ash will be in hospital for several weeks more as he continues to grow and works with his team of doctors and nurses to overcome any disabilities he may have as a consequence of his PVL...please help us stay with our son and give him all the support he needs so he can come home...where he belongs ❤️

Love Christie and Lee