Big brain surgery then birth

MORE than $170,000 has been raised for a couple who welcomed a baby boy a week after the mum underwent emergency brain surgery and was diagnosed with an aggressive form of incurable cancer.

The GoFundMe for Elise and Dylan Squillari from the Gold Coast has seen a flurry of donations to help the couple raise their child after Elise’s diagnosis.

At 32 weeks pregnant, Elise was admitted to Gold Coast University hospital with severe headaches which saw her undergo emergency brain surgery to relieve pressure.

Two tumours were removed with doctors saying there would be many more.

The following week, Elise was told she had stage four metastatic melanoma.

Due to the aggressive nature of the cancer, the couple were forced to deliver their baby at 33 weeks.

On Wednesday, Daniel announced the arrival of baby boy Romeo weighing 2.1kg.

“We are so in love, he has bought so much love at the time we needed it the most,” Daniel wrote on Instagram.

Elise is due to start immunotherapy as soon as possible, however, doctors have told the couple that the treatment will be life prolonging, not curative.

Now, with both parents out of work for the foreseeable future, the fundraiser has asked for people to come forward and help.

A friend of the couple set up the fundraiser to alleviate financial stress regarding the new baby, bills, family support, donor breastmilk, alternative therapies, and living expenses.

Those who want to donate can help out here: https:// www.gofundme.com/f/support-elise-and-dylan-squillari.