Our Precious Boy

Seeking support for Meander Valley/Tasmanian family of 5 with their seriously ill 7 month old baby.

Brent and Jayne and their three sons E (8yo), A (5yo) and baby O (7 months) have had their worlds turned upside down this year with a diagnosis of congenital renal abnormalities for Baby O.

On the night Baby O was born, his paediatric team said he was ‘Sick but safe, very very sick’. And their whole family have been riding that wave ever since. He had his first surgery at 8 days old, followed by 2 more, and a 4th surgery booked for this week.

In his short 7 months, O has had 7 hospital admissions, (including his whole first month in NICU) 41 nights in hospital, 3 surgeries, 66 specialist appointments, 1 set of hearing aids and countless other medical procedures.

Last Wednesday O and Jayne were airlifted to RHH for treatment of a serious kidney infection, and they will need to stay for another week at least while he undergoes another renal surgery.

Their situation has been described as a marathon, not a sprint, owing to the long-term and ongoing nature of baby O’s condition and medical needs.

The whole family miss being together, but O’s two adoring big brothers miss their mum and baby a lot when they’re away in the hospital.

Brent and Jayne live an hour from their closest hospital and three hours from Royal Hobart Hospital, where many of his procedures need to take place due to their complex nature. They also have appointments at Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. Jayne travels to Launceston three times each week, on average, for appointments, a two-hour/120km round trip.

The emotional and financial toll of his complex health concerns, the unpredictability and stress it has taken on this young family are unimaginable to us, and we wish to support them with this Go Fund Me to help them into the future.