Media Release

 

September 8, 2011

 

500km for a picnic

 

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Children’s Hospital in Newcastle was a long way from home for Inverell local Eleasha Griffin and her husband Stuart in 2009.

It was a trip though that was not optional, as Eleasha gave birth to twin girls 15 weeks premature. Georgia and Bella Griffin were born in May 2009, weighing just 730 grams and 680 grams. The girls were the tiniest of babies who would need to spend the next six months of their lives in NICU.

In that time the twins fought their way through conditions associated with extreme prematurity including, chronic lung disease, heart problems and infection, as well as the daily battle of achieving weight gain.

“It was a major celebration for us when the girls reached the one kilo mark, weight gain over time was what we needed physically to happen,” Mr Griffin said.

Georgia and Bella did put on weight and grew stronger in time, and after 134 days in intensive care the girls were able to go home to Inverell.

“It’s probably safe to say we got to see a lot of the staff in action, the girls weren’t always the easiest patients to care for at times. We were always confident though they were being looked after by the smartest and most skilled people in their field,” Mrs Griffin said.

“We will always be extremely grateful to the NICU team and we count our blessings every day for being able to take our two gorgeous girls back home with us,” she said.

The Griffin’s gratitude is reflected in the 1000km round trip they will make to attend the NICU’s 20 Year Reunion Picnic being held at Speers Point Park in Newcastle on 18 September.

Since 1991 the NICU at the Children’s Hospital in Newcastle has cared for more than 500 sick and premature newborns from the New England Area. All children and families who have been admitted to the NICU in the past 20 years are invited to attend the reunion.

Interviews and photos with the Griffin’s can be arranged by contacting Communication Officer Lucas Coleman on 0407895101.

 

Media inquiries:

Lucas Coleman - 02 49213844, 0407 895 101 (ref HNE-2619)