MIRACLE MUM MARKS MAGIC MOTHER’S DAY
TOMORROW will be an extra special Mother’sMother s Day for first-first time mum Shania Roberts Roberts. She will be at daughter Scarlett’sScarlett s bedside,bedside with the bub born two weeks ago with her intestines outside of her tinyt body. Following surgery,surgery Scarlett is on the mend.mend “I have so much to be grateful for,” Ms Roberts said.
MOTHER’S Day will be bittersweet for first- time mum Shania Roberts.
Ms Roberts will spend the day by her baby daughter’s bedside at the special care unit at Townsville Hospital after sneaking in a breakfast with her partner, Reece Tonga, and his mother.
“I have so much to be grateful for this Mother’s Day, which is my first,” she said.
“Although it’s not ideal to spend it in hospital, I’m so grateful that my baby is on the mend and that she is being taken care of so very well by the doctors and nurses.
“This Mother’s Day will be hard to beat because I can finally rest knowing my daughter will be fine.
“What more can a mother ask for but a healthy baby and because of the doctors and nurses that is what I have now.”
Ms Roberts’ daughter, Scarlett, was born two weeks ago with gastroschisis, which means her intestines stuck out of her body.
“Scarlett had surgery to put her intestines in her body and has been moved from intensive care to special care so that’s been a blessing,” Ms Roberts said.
“To watch my tiny baby go through such major surgery was heartbreaking but I felt reassured all along because the doctors and nurses kept me informed throughout everything.”
Ms Roberts knew at her 20- week scan her daughter would be born with the condition.
“I was so scared during the pregnancy and that continued on after the birth,” she said. “It is unimaginable to know your child is ill.
“I am so relieved Scarlett is now in special care, and not in intensive care, and will make a full recovery.
“She’ll need further surgery when she’s about one but for now she is doing so well.”
Ms Roberts, 20, has been staying at the North Queensland Ronald McDonald House since her daughter’s birth.
“This would have been even more traumatic if it were not for the Ronald McDonald House,” the Mackay resident said.
“To have free accommodation next to the hospital is an incredible gift and one I will never forget. I really can’t express my thanks in words what it means to me to be so close to my baby at such a distressing time.
“It is a charity that is supported by the community. It is the most amazing facility and it has helped my family when we needed it most.”
Townsville Bulletin readers have contributed to a $ 3500 donation from the Bulletin to the North Queensland Ronald McDonald House through a promotion with local McDonald’s restaurants held during February.
To donate to the North Queensland Ronald McDonald House go to rmhc. org. au/ page/ northqueensland- donate