Help parents grieve the loss of their first born

On 06/01/2022, Janelle and Simon were given the news at 37 weeks pregnant with their first child that their baby had a heart condition called TAPVD (total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage), a heart condition that is very rarely picked up through ultrasound. They were sent to the Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane the next day to meet a pediatric cardiologist to find out what the next steps were for them. It was then decided that Janelle would be induced and on 10/01/2022, Murphy Miers was born, weighing in at a tiny 4.5lbs. Murphy, Janelle and Simon were moved straight into the PICU, evaluations and tests were done. It was decided that Murphy's surgery to repair his heart would wait in the hope that he would reach a 'goal weight' in the hope it would improve is outcome. While on the road to achieving that goal weight, test results discovered abnormalities in his lungs and liver that confused Drs but had them thinking it may just be the pressure of his heart not working the way it should and affecting other organs.

On 25/01/2022 Murphy underwent open-heart surgery to correct his TAPVD, and whilst under, a biopsy was taken of his lungs, and blood work was taken and sent off to a geneticist for genetic testing. Murphy's surgery was successful, and his cardiologist was extremely happy with how Murphy was recovering, and his open chest was closed the next day. Whilst in recovery, Janelle and Simon were not only given the news that Murphy also had a rare lung disorder called P.I.G (pulmonary interstitial glycogenosis), but they were struck down with Covid-19 forcing Janelle and Murphy into an isolation room in PICU for 10 days. During all of this, Murphy has been the biggest fighter.

Everything was looking up for this young family until Murphy underwent routine discharge tests. Janelle and Simon were given the most significant blow of all that little Murphy's heart was in heart failure. The arteries had started to thin, which will eventually close, resulting in Murphy passing, and there is nothing the Drs can do to help Murphy.

Janelle, Simon and Murphy have since been moved to a 'limited life for children care facility' in Brisbane, where they will remain until Murphy passes, whilst under the care of a fantastic nursing and carers team on standby 24/7. During their stay here, Janelle and Simon received the news from the geneticist confirming that Murphy has Williams Syndrome on top of everything else. Dr's will be doing a case study on Murphy as having all three diagnoses is very unusual and may not have been found all togeather in one patient.

Janelle and Simon have now been living away from their home on the Gold Coast since this ordeal started, and Simon off work, so the limited time they have can be spent with Murphy. This GoFundMe has been created by Anita, Janelle's older sister, to help them with the ongoing cost of general everyday living, to take Murphy home to New Zealand to his final resting place with family and to allow them to grieve the loss of there baby without the added pressure of going back to work right away.

All donations are received with many thanks from our families.