A kind donation after a difficult birth Like most expecting mums, Hayley Brien was nervous but excited about the arrival of her new baby.
But when she went into labour at 39 weeks, unforeseen complications saw her son Francesco Stewart quickly transferred from another hospital to Royal North Shore’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Two months later, all is well. Baby Frankie, swaddled and sucking a dummy, slept soundly as Hayley and dad Jon Stewart presented a generous “thank you” to NICU nurse manager Claire Blackburn: a new TV. The pair decided to donate the TV as during Frankie’s two and a half weeks on the ward, they spotted it listed on a “wish list” pinned to a wall. Hayley and Jon said they wanted to give a bit of joy back to the staff. “We were struck by the incredible dedication of the people that work here – it is considered a privilege to help the tiny and sick babies,” said Hayley. “We knew a simple thank you would have been more than enough, but we just felt incredibly moved to provide something that would hopefully make a bit of a difference.” Frankie’s first few days in the NICU were intense as the couple waited to see how his birth trauma would manifest. “We were constantly on tenterhooks,” said Hayley. “Frankie kept throwing curveballs. In the end, the staff got down to the nub of the issue. But it was a wild ride.” Hayley says once they worked out the issue, his situation was quickly managed and his Vale Professor Thomas Reeve The first and founding Professor of Surgery at the Royal North Shore Hospital Professor Thomas Reeve sadly passed away at age 99. Professor Reeve had a career of highlights and was only recently awarded RNSH’s first ever alumni medal. In 2019 RNSH also opened the Tom Reeve Academic Surgical Clinic in honour of the revered surgeon. Amongst a stellar career, Professor Reeve was appointed Professor of Surgery in 1974, retiring from academia in 1988. He was elected President of the Royal Australasian College of
Hayley and Jon with their baby Frankie
condition rapidly improved. He is now on the path to recovery. Jon says they wanted to give something practical that would be used by the staff. “We were very grateful for the care they provided both to Frankie, but also to us,” he said. NICU nurse manager Claire said Frankie kept staff on their toes during his stay. “It is so humbling that at this time Frankie’s parents Hayley and Jon thought about how they could thank us,” she said. “Seeing babies leave the NICU well is the reason we all do this work.” Surgeons in 1989 and has numerous Honorary Fellowships across the world. Chair of the RNSH Medical Staff Council, Dr John Brereton said: “Generations of nursing and medical staff remembered Professor Reeve with great fondness, the utmost respect, and reverence for his surgery, his teaching and his pioneering science.” Northern Sydney Local Health District offers its condolences to family members, friends and colleagues.
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NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 16| 4 SEPTEMBER 2023
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