By YASEMIN TALAT
THE first Wednesday of April families across Wyndham will don the colour green in support of the precious lives of premature babies.
Tarneit mother Marina Arnold hoped to shine a light on the hardships endured by premature babies and their families during the early stages of their lives, and sometimes for the rest of their lives.
“I don’t believe a lot of people know what families go through or what the prems go through,” Ms Arnold said.
“And how truly special they are, they are a blessing, a miracle,” she said.
“It’s such a harrowing thing for both the child and the families and we really need to raise support for them.”
After complications to Ms Arnold’s health, she had preeclampsia, she gave birth to Mellizza at 32 weeks.
Ms Arnold did not know what to expect when her daughter Mellizza was born premature.
And she was not expecting to be separated from her daughter immediately and for the next two months.
She said it was the hardest thing, and was left feeling like she did not have a baby.
“I was never warned about having a premmie and what happens,” Ms Arnold said.
“I ended up with post natal [depression] from all this.”
Now, with Mellizza almost 15 months old, mother and baby are doing well and want to support others and share information.
They will be supporting the L’il Aussie Prems Foundation ‘Wearing Green for Premmies’ event to help raise awareness and celebrate the precious lives of premature babies next month.
“She’s amazing, she’s doing everything that she should be doing for her actual age,” Ms Arnold said.
“I’m very blessed to have her as healthy as she is considering she was born only 1.2 kilos and 34 cms long- she was tiny.”
For more information visit: http://www.lilaussieprems.com.au/wear-green-for-premmies-2014/
