When Andy was 6 days old he needed surgery for a perforated bowel and was transferred to a Kids Surgical Hospital, where we were told to withdraw treatment because Andy was given less than 1% chance of living a normal life. We continued, he was ours and that’s all that mattered.

Andy had hyaline membrane disease, bilateral pulmonary interstitial emphysema, right pneumothorax, chronic lung disease, patent ductus arteriosus, ileal perforation, intraventricular haemorrhage grade 2 and 3, retinopathy of prematurity, coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia, urinary tract infection and jaundice.

Andy spent 94 days in Nepean NICU and remained on oxygen for another 4 ½ months at home.

Andy suffers from asthma and needs ongoing care for chest problems, which requires hospitalisation once or twice a year. He is a happy, energetic, typical 4 year old boy with a funny character that makes us laugh everyday.