Lilly’s instinct as a mother in Melbourne might have helped her baby. With only 24 weeks to go in my pregnancy, I didn’t feel quite right. She suspected from her maternal instincts that something was wrong with the unborn Lennox. Quickly, Renee grabbed Brodie Moles, ran to the hospital and felt her heart beating hard with fear.
At the hospital, doctors found that Lennox’s heart needed quick repair because he had a serious problem. There wasn’t much time to spare. They quickly asked for labor induction. At birth, only weighing 1.8 pounds, Lennox was very tiny and still with risky odds of making it.
The doctors rushed to help him as soon as he came in. His tiny frame was enclosed in a plastic bag and attached to complex equipment meant to supply full medical support—standard for newborn babies who arrive early. Lilly and Brodie got used to every noise coming from the hospital machines.
Lilly had strong and opposite feelings as she saw her son continue to live through each day. She was by his bed almost every day for the 111 days he was in the hospital. The NICU took over as the center of her life. In addition, Brodie became responsible at home by looking after Lilly’s three other children and maintaining the rest of the family so that Lennox would have a stable home when he arrived back.
Every day was long and nights seemed even longer. At times, the hopes we shared became smaller and we cried quietly together as we passed each other in the hospital. Yet, the nurses and doctors always kept fighting. Their effort never wavered, as they tried to save Lennox like they would a strong little warrior.
As time went on, Lennox surpassed all the negative predictions. His heart that was once so weak became much stronger. His lungs started breathing automatically. One at a time, the tubes were removed from me. Lilly and Brodie made every little step forward a huge event—that’s how special they were to them.
After about four months in the hospital, Lennox was ready to come home and recover. Then, he weighed a healthy nine pounds. There were tears, smiles and many thanks when he came home. He was not just still here—he succeeded.
Currently, their house is filled with their baby laughing and dropping off to quiet sleep. By being with us, he has given the family new hope and has helped everyone heal. Lilly and Brodie notice themselves becoming fascinated by all their baby’s noises, smiles and breaths.
The course was very unpleasant, but it bonded the family more than they ever thought it would. They now understand to appreciate the simplest of moments, because they almost lost them.
Many times, Lilly notices that it was her gut feeling that day that influenced her actions. She says that “something inside me” told her what to do. Through it, the voice kept my son alive.