The parents of a premature baby born with a congenital condition which affects one in 6000 births have thanked the medical team at Brisbane's Mater Mothers' Hospital for saving their "little diamond".
When tiny Casey Roberts was born 10 weeks early and weighing just 850g – less than a loaf of bread - at Mater Mothers' Hospital on 20 June doctors already knew he had duodenal atresia, after the condition was detected while Casey was still in his mother's womb.
The condition caused a blockage in Casey's intestines, preventing food and fluids from passing through his digestive system after he was born.
Casey's parents Tamika, 32, and Chris Roberts, 33, were advised by doctors that "nothing could be done during pregnancy", and Casey would need surgery when he was a few months older and had gained more weight.
"We call him our little diamond baby because as part of his surgery to repair the blockage his intestines were cut and reconnected to his stomach in a diamond shape," Mrs Roberts said.
Though he was not able take any milk before the surgery was performed, Casey received all necessary calories and nutrients intravenously.
The couple, from Redbank Plains, are sharing their story on World Prematurity Day (17 November) which they have described as a "rollercoaster of emotions".
"Our story is raw and real, and we know a lot of other parents have been in similar situations," Mrs Roberts said.
Every year more than 1,800 sick or premature babies are cared for at Mater Mothers' Hospital.
Mrs Roberts said her son received around-the-clock care by a multidisciplinary team in Mater's Neonatal Critical Care Unit (NCCU) for two months before undergoing surgery at Queensland Children's Hospital on 1 August, when he tipped the scales at 2kg.
She said the Mater Mothers' NCCU team were "well prepared" for Casey's delivery which made her feel less anxious about his arrival and remembers the first time she saw Casey in an incubator.
"The team prepared us for that we would see when Casey was born, but being in that room for the first time was really emotional," she said.
"I found it hard to look at Casey, he had so many cords, suction, long lines, breathing tubes - he was just so tiny."
Mrs Roberts was referred to the Mater Centre for Maternal Fetal Medicine at South Brisbane for monitoring of her unborn baby when scans at 26 weeks into her pregnancy revealed Casey had duodenal atresia, fetal growth restriction and a cleft lip.
"The waiting game was hard," said Mrs Roberts, who was also juggling life with her daughter, Charlee
(2).
"We'd been having scans every day for two weeks.
"There were times where I did wonder if we would ever bring our baby home."
Now five months old, Casey is thriving and enjoys spending time playing with his big sister.
"Our children are an absolute blessing and we know we are so lucky to have them," she said.
"After trying for five years to have Charlee, we were ready to give up and then our little miracle Casey came along."
"Casey is a fighter; he is a miracle and we are so blessed to have had the best care at Mater."
