Northland family urge support for Little Miracles Trust neonatal fundraiser

Whangarei couple Shaun and Tayla Dean and their babies Mila and Kayley.

A Northland couple whose premature babies spent two months in the neonatal intensive care unit has praised the organisation that supported them through tough times.

Whangārei’s Tayla and Shaun Dean had barely got their heads around the fact they were having twins before being referred to Auckland’s maternal fetal medicine team.

Because one baby was more than 20% smaller than the other, doctors weren’t sure if they would survive.

Mila and Kayley were born two months early on June 5, 2024, and were brought home in August that year.

“We always knew they were going to be born early, so we were expecting it,” Tayla said.

“But it’s definitely hard.

“Even though it was a short time, it felt forever, like we were never going to get home.”

The twins, now nearly 18 months, spent a total of 58 days in the neonatal ICU in Auckland, while Tayla stayed at Ronald McDonald House.

Shaun and their first-born son, who was 2 at the time, travelled from Whangārei each weekend to be with them.

They didn’t get to meet the twins for the first six hours after they were born, and at the end of each day had to leave them in hospital.

It was in the high-risk antenatal ward where Tayla met the Little Miracles Trust team who hosted an antenatal support group.

There, she was able to meet other mums going through a similar journey.

Tayla said having the support group and help from Little Miracles staff was amazing.

“We met them when I was admitted to high-risk maternity ward before they were born.

“Once our babies were born, met them again; they provided us with chilly bag with goodies and samples and baby products to trial.

“The trust team would come by and say hello every day to see if we needed anything.

“We’re so grateful, it was all worth it, they’re healthy and happy.”

Each year, about 5000 babies are born prematurely in New Zealand, facing a challenging journey through a neonatal intensive care unit or special care baby unit.

Including those babies suffering a critical illness, one in 10 Kiwi babies will have a neonatal unit journey.

During this time, parents may be unable to hold or interact directly with their babies.

The Little Miracles Trust’s annual neonatal campaign aims to help parents of premature newborns create meaningful moments with their little ones.

The not-for-profit organisation is now fundraising to establish special reading libraries in neonatal units throughout Aotearoa, alongside continued cot-side support for families.

Little Miracles Trust chief executive Dr Sarah Rusholme said the early days in neonatal care could feel isolating and overwhelming.

“You are surrounded by machines, wires and tubes, when all you want is to hold your baby.

“Reading gives parents the ability to do something proactive and connect with their child through their voice.

“We want to make sure that opportunity is there for every whānau.

“Through our team’s work with families at some of the toughest times in their lives, we know it can be the little things that make all the difference.”

The appeal aims to raise money to install specially designed bookcases filled with storybooks in every neonatal ICU and special care baby unit nationwide.

The project is backed by international research showing babies who regularly hear their parents’ voices display stronger neurological and language development.

For more information on how to support Little Miracles Trust, go to littlemiraclestrust.org.nz

Jenny Ling is a senior journalist at the Northern Advocate. She has a special interest in covering human interest stories, along with finance, roading and social issues.