The Neal family support our NICU

Scarlett Neal was born 25 weeks gestation in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in October 2015, weighing a tiny 653 grams. She spent a total of 169 days in hospital (165 days in the NICU) before being transferred back home to Ballarat.

To celebrate her first birthday friends and family donated to the NICU, raising over $2,600. The funds were used to purchase a Kangaroo chair to help other premature babies like Scarlett bond with their mothers, and also to research into perinatal health for high risk pregnancies.

The Neal family were overjoyed to welcome their second child into the world this year, little Harper Neal, born on the 11 July 2017. Baby Harper also required treatment in the NICU with a much shorter stay this time, and the Neal family was able to make use of the Kangaroo chair purchased with her older sister’s donation.

“The care our family received from Dr Hodges, Birth Suites and the NICU for both our baby girls was exceptional. The kindness, care and compassion shown to our family in hard times was truly amazing, we are forever grateful to Monash Health and Monash Children’s Hospital for all they have done for our little family,” says Kate Neal, proud mother of Scarlett and Harper.

We thank the Neal family for supporting thousands of premature babies born in the NICU every year!

For more information on supporting Monash Children’s Children’s hospital, visit our Monash Health Foundation page.

Pictured above and below: Scarlett at 54 days old with Dad, Ash in December 2015 (photo by Heartfelt).

Pictured above: Scarlett turning a big one year old in October 2016 (photo by Maree Garner Photography).

Pictured above: Scarlett  aged 20 months and baby Harper, together in August 2017 (photo by Maree Garner Photography).