Little treasure

By LIA SPENCER
ALEXANDER Sheppard was born 13 weeks early and his parents were told he wouldn’t survive.
Now, Chris and Rachael Sheppard are putting their best foot forward to help support other parents of premature babies.
After Alex was born, the couple travelled several times a day from their Berwick home to Monash Medical Centre to be by his side while still caring for their daughter Thalia – who was 15 months old at the time, and juggling Mr Sheppard’s work commitments.
Alex suffered a pulmonary haemorrhage – meaning his lungs were bleeding and had necrotizing enter colitis – meaning portions of the bowel undergo necrosis.
He was on oxygen for six weeks and had hearing loss. But in February 2011, 11 weeks after Alex was born, Mr and Ms Sheppard took their son home.
“He was 38 weeks adjusted – so it was amazing to bring him home,” Ms Sheppard said.
“To be told your son won’t make it is horrible. It’s the worst and I get emotional thinking about it.
“I have so much respect for the doctors and nurses who helped him survive. I had no idea the extent people would go through to help enrich our lives.”
Ms Sheppard said her son still had medical issues, including a recent anaphylactic reaction which required an ambulance trip to the hospital, but was thrilled to have her son home- which is now in Pakenham.
She is so grateful for the work by medical staff that she wants to give something back.
On 28 October, the Sheppards, as well as their family and friends, will be participating in the Walk for Prems which raises money for Life’s Little Treasures – a foundation which provides support and advice for families who had premature babies.
The foundation was not at Monash Medical Centre when Alex was born but has since been implemented.
Ms Sheppard said it was important for families to have a program to help them through the difficult time.
“Life’s Little Treasures provides so much support to families – they have a (phone) app where you can put in medical terminology and it explains what it means – having something like that is invaluable to parents with a prem,” she said.
“They also have support groups which is important for a new mum with a prem.
“You can’t tell someone who has a full term baby what it’s like to be told your child might not make it.”
Life’s Little Treasures Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that assists more than 2,000 families across Australia. The Foundation’s services include: supportive parent networks; informative literature; a 24-hour helpline (1300 MYPREMMIE); online resources; iPhone applications; and fundraising events.
Anyone wanting to donate can visit www.lifeslittletreasuresfundraising.com.au/sheppard.