Record books dusted off for second miracle premmie at TUH

The dust had barely settled on the record books after Australia’s most premature surviving baby, Stevie O’Reilly, was born at 22 weeks and two days at Townsville University Hospital, when they were opened again this time to welcome baby Kevin.

Kevin is credited as the hospital’s second ‘miracle’ baby after also being born at 22 weeks and two days on November 8 last year.

Mum Mahrita Hampton went into preterm labour at the home she shares with partner Harrison in Dimbulah on the Atherton Tableland around dawn on 7 November.

“I woke about five in morning with pains and we went straight to Mareeba Hospital,” Ms Hampton said.

“They said to save the baby I would have to be flown out to Cairns, so they got me into a helicopter and once I arrived they said Townsville was the best place for my son to have a chance.

“I’d had medication to slow down the labour and help with the pain, but it was the scariest and most painful time of my life.

“Harrison had come down by car with family and I’m glad he made it.

“Kevin had decided it was his time, and he wanted to come with family around him.”

Born at 440g more than four months early, Kevin, who is named after his grandfather, great grandfather, and uncle, was immediately transferred to the hospital’s neonatal unit.

Staff specialist neonatologist Dr Mary Ghazawy said babies born as early as Kevin were ‘extremely challenging’ to care for.

“The first few weeks of his life we had to monitor for skin breakdowns and infections, water and electrolyte imbalances, and support his blood pressure and his breathing,” she said.

“Kevin has had his ups and downs and gave all of us a sleepless night or two.”

It was more than three weeks before Ms Hampton could hold her boy.

“After he was born, they took me straight to the neonatal intensive care unit and I asked Harrison to go with him to watch over our son,” she said.

“I was scared but so happy to hold him and once his feeding tube and leads came off, I was able to bath him the first time.”

Now weighing 3.2kg, Dr Ghazawy described Kevin as ‘our miracle mark two’.

“After Stevie, we didn’t think we’d see another 22 weeker in our unit so soon and then just a few months later we had Kevin,” she said.

Ms Hampton, who also credited her baby’s survival to the power of prayer, said she believed Kevin was sent for a higher purpose.

“He’s changed how I look at life,” she said.

“There were a few times that I thought he wasn’t going to make it and that’s when one of Kevin’s nurses prayed with me and asked if I wanted to go to church with her.

“My church family at home has also been praying for him,” she said.

Ms Hampton said she wanted to thank the neonatal team and Ronald McDonald House.

“I haven’t had much sleep over the past three months; I just wanted to be with Kevin.

“He’s my miracle.”

Dr Ghazawy said the chances of survival for babies born at less than 23 weeks was improving.

“Less than 23 weeks is extremely early; babies born this early face very high risks of breathing difficulties, brain bleeds, infection, renal and retinal disease,” she said.

“Kevin has equalled the record for the youngest preterm baby to survive in Australia.

“He has been an absolute treasure to care for and is a credit to his amazing parents who never stopped believing.”