“He continues to fight with such strength,” says mother of baby born at 24 weeks gestation
Even before their son was born, Madeleine Power and partner Zayne Ashwell named him Elijah – meaning “Yahweh is my God”.
His name, they say, couldn’t be more fitting given the circumstances they find themselves in now.
Elijah was born at 24 weeks gestation on July 6, weighing just 610grams.
Born 16 weeks early, he and his family have been fighting for his life at Wellington Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
The complications began early, Madeleine says. At 22 weeks plus three days gestation, she went into premature labour.
“At that gestation, baby isn't considered viable until 23 weeks, so it was going be classed as a late-onset miscarriage.
“We had the option to be sent to Wellington (knowing they couldn't resuscitate baby) or stay home around family and support.”
They chose to stay home. “It was the hardest few days of our lives praying we made it to viability.”
“Miraculously 23 weeks rolled around, and Elijah was still safe in my womb.”
They were then transferred to Wellington where they continued to try to hold off labour with medications, infusions, and bed rest.
“At exactly 24 weeks I started bleeding and it was clear Elijah was making his entrance into the world. Contractions had come on hard and strong,” Madeleine said of her son’s birth.
“Zayne was in Hawke’s Bay at the time and got back just in time for Elijah's delivery. We were very scared, but relieved when we heard Elijah let out the tiniest cry one could ever hear – He was ok. We were going to be ok.”
On August 15, Elijah was diagnosed with Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), a serious disease affecting the intestines of premature infants.
He was also diagnosed with pericardial effusion (build-up of extra fluid in the space around the heart), and a large PDA in his heart which may need to be surgically closed, as well as hernias that will need to be surgically closed before coming home.
Despite this, Madeleine says Elijah is “meeting his milestones, with a few setbacks along the way”.
“He continues to fight, with such strength. We couldn't be more proud of him! It's hard to know what Elijah's future will look like, but we are hopeful he will fulfil a long healthy life!”
The family have relied on their Christian faith during this time and were able to dedicate Elijah, whose name was chosen because of its Biblical meaning, to the Lord.
The RSV Virus and the current Alert Level 4 Lockdown has made their tough situation even tougher.
Particularly so for Zayne who “so desperately” wants to be by his son and partner’s side but isn’t allowed to until restrictions ease.
“It’s been stressful on the family, being separated. However, we are video calling daily and in constant contact which makes things a bit easier to deal with.
“Covid is making things tricky, as all that got me through each week was counting down until family visited. Now we don't know when that will be.”
Madeleine’s four other children aged six, eight, nine and 11-years-old, also haven’t been able to meet their brother.
“They can't wait to meet him! But it's been really hard on them knowing he's here, earthside, but they can’t see him.”
Friend, Briar Janson felt compelled to create a Givealittle page, after seeing their plight.
The two women clicked after Madeline opened her own beauty business and happened to be pregnant at the same time.
“We just get on so well and so it was quite exciting to have little ones the same age and going through the same journey as such, and then mine turned out fine and hers turned into the nightmare,” Briar says.
Knowing that it could “happen to anyone” and seeing their desperate situation first-hand made her realise “they need help”.
“My main reason was to help the family to get through such a tough time and just to take a little bit of pressure off because it's just such a nightmare really and I would hate to see it become worse because of other financial pressures.”
She is urging the wider Hawke’s Bay community to get around and support the family.
“I've done my best with meals and looking after their kids and donations and things like that, but I can't do it by myself. It takes a full village sometimes.”
Just under $4000 has already been donated. Madeleine said Briar got their permission before starting the page.
“To begin with, we were a bit hesitant, but in the end had to swallow our pride and agree to help.”
Now on one income, they say the funds raised so far are a “huge help” and will go towards flights and preparing Elijah to come home.
“The pricing of flights to and from Wellington every week soon start to add up and it’s not feasible to drive four hours after a 50–60-hour week to only be left with less than a day to see Elijah.”
As they were not expecting him to arrive so early, Madeleine says like most mothers at 24 weeks pregnant, they had “only just started getting things together”.
“The community and support we have been given so far has been so humbling and we are so incredibly grateful for everyone helping make this difficult time a bit easier.”
“With his chronic lung disease among other issues, it's not as simple as bringing a ‘healthy term’ baby home,” she says.
They are hopeful Elijah will be transferred to Hawke’s Bay Hospital in the coming weeks.
“We have currently been in Wellington NICU for 7 going on 8 weeks. Elijah needs to be clear of his NEC, back on full feeds, and on less breathing support and a bit heavier. We are positive this will happen, all in His time.”
For more information and to donate, visit: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/elijah-24week-baby
