FEATURE
N o family expects to spend months living out of a hospital ward. But when Sienna arrived four months early, that became Melissa and Nick’s reality – and it’s where Ronald McDonald House became part of their story. What began as a routine antenatal appointment at their local hospital turned, within minutes, into a call back for further tests and an air ambulance flight from their home in Wangaratta to Melbourne’s Mercy Hospital for Women, where Melissa was told of the prospect that her baby could be born at just 24 weeks. At 25 weeks and three days, the waiting ended with an emergency caesarean, and Melissa and Nick’s tiny, fragile daughter entered the world, weighing just 836 grams. Thankfully, with so much else to worry about, accommodation wasn’t one of them. Ronald McDonald House welcomed them to stay there during those months, which took one practical burden off their shoulders. It meant they could remain close to Sienna without worrying about where they would sleep and had somewhere to return to after the long days at the hospital. It also gave their wider family a place to gather. There were meals provided, a communal kitchen, freshly baked treats, and the company of other families who understood what it was like to have a child in hospital. “At a time when absolutely everything felt uncertain, Ronald McDonald House gave us somewhere to belong,” Melissa said. “It gave us a home when we were suddenly so far away from our own. It gave us somewhere to sleep, somewhere to breathe, somewhere to eat, and somewhere to gather ourselves before walking back into the hospital.” Ronald McDonald House also gave them opportunities to step away and enjoy moments together as a family. One of those was an invitation to the Brownlow Medal – something her football- mad sons couldn’t believe. “For those hours, the boys weren’t the brothers of a critically ill baby. They laughed. They were excited. They made memories,” Melissa said.
The family was also guests at Godolphin’s Northwood Park in Seymour, where the property’s gardens, homestead and horses offered a rare stretch of calm – and some equine therapy – amid the uncertainty of Sienna’s care. After 122 days, Sienna was able to go home. Today, she is doing remarkably well, though she still requires additional care and regular appointments. Ronald McDonald House remains there for them, with Melissa and Nick welcome to stay any time they return to Melbourne for that ongoing support.
“Honestly, it feels like we won the Melbourne Cup last year,” Melissa said. “We are still celebrating as we get to wake up and cherish her every day. Every cuddle, every smile, every laugh, and every new achievement reminds us just how incredibly precious life is.”
Melissa with Sienna.
Fancy a Gallop? | 105
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software