Little Noah’s journey

Nearly four years ago, we featured Noah Watts journey on our brochure for Mater Prize Home lottery No. 240. Noah was just 13 months old at the time.

Noah was born 10 weeks premature on 24 January 2011 at Mater Mothers’ Hospital, weighing a tiny 1090 grams. Born with severe chronic lung disease, Noah spent five days on a ventilator in the Neonatal Critical Care Unit (NCCU).  He developed a chest infection within two days of being born and was connected to a machine for the next four weeks to support his breathing.  Without this support, his lungs would collapse which could have been fatal.

It was nine days before Noah’s dad, Shaune, was able to hold his little boy, and nine weeks until his parents could finally take him home. 

“It’s extremely difficult to know you have a baby but you can’t take him home,” Shaune said. 

Noah was finally released from hospital on 31 March 2011, however his lungs were not strong enough to support his breathing so he had to remain on oxygen. He was gradually weaned off the oxygen until finally five and a half months later Noah could breathe on his own.

Noah is now a happy and healthy little man – soon to turn five!

“It’s not until you experience this journey for yourself that you appreciate what the wonderful staff at Mater do to support you and your family,” Shaune said.

It is with thanks to your support of the Mater Prize Home lottery that Mater little miracles, like Noah, get the best possible start to life.