Miracle mum YANZHOU shares Evelyne's story:

Our Journey with Evelyne: A Story of Hope and Gratitude

My pregnancy started off very smoothly. I had no medical conditions, and our baby was growing well and healthy. This was our first child, and both my partner and I were incredibly excited to meet her.

At 24 weeks, I was still working when I noticed a slight tightening in my abdomen. It wasn’t painful, but out of caution, I contacted my private obstetrician. As he was on leave at the time, he advised me to visit the Maternity Assessment Unit at Canberra Hospital for a quick checkup.

I truly thought it would be a routine visit. But to our complete shock, after the examination, I was told that my cervix was already dilated two centimeters and that there was a high chance our baby would be born within two days. I was immediately admitted to hospital. We were not prepared for any of this — it was devastating news.

Shortly after, a neonatal doctor came to speak with us. They explained our baby’s condition, and what it would mean if we chose to proceed with treatment. Because she was only 24 weeks, her chances of survival were significantly lower compared to a baby born at 28 weeks, and there were substantial risks of long-term complications.

Despite hearing all the possible negative outcomes, we did not hesitate — we knew we wanted to do everything we could to save our baby.

After receiving emergency medical treatment, our daughter was born via emergency C-section at 24 weeks and 2 days. She arrived so suddenly that we hadn’t even chosen a name for her yet. From the moment she was born, she was taken straight to the NICU. She was — and still is — a fighter.

During her time in NICU, she faced countless challenges: multiple infections, IV lines, blood transfusions, abdominal distension, x-rays, CT scans, and so many ups and downs. There were nights when we received difficult phone calls from the NICU, telling us her condition had taken a turn for the worse.

Because she was born so prematurely, she unfortunately suffered a Grade IV intraventricular hemorrhage — a significant brain bleed. The doctors explained the potential impact it could have on her development. Still, seeing how determined she was to fight, we chose to stand with her and face whatever might come together.

The journey was incredibly hard, but after 150 days in hospital, our baby girl finally came home. Today, on her first birthday, we reflect on how far she’s come — from a tiny 670g baby to a joyful, thriving little girl who now weighs 7.12kg. Watching her smile at us each day reminds us that everything we’ve gone through was worth it.

We received extraordinary care throughout this journey. The doctors and nurses in NICU and SCU at Canberra Hospital, the lactation consultants, physiotherapists, and social workers—they all cared for Evelyne and our family with such compassion and dedication. Their support carried us through the hardest moments, and we are deeply grateful. We truly wouldn’t be here without them.

Words cannot fully express how thankful we are. Thanks to them, we now have our little Evelyne, full of life and light.