For Brooke and Jade Clements, watching their premature baby son struggle to breathe and need resuscitation was the most difficult thing they’ve encountered as parents.
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“It was hard to process,” Mrs Clements said.
“Quite overwhelming,” her husband added.
The Lavington couple’s third son, Kylin, born on March 4 at 36 weeks, suffered respiratory distress syndrome and was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit at the Mercy Hospital for Women.
Now a bouncing eight month-old, Kylin and his family will help those who helped them, raising money for Mercy Perinatal through the second annual Pram Jam, November 20-26.
The Clements, who also include Jefferson, 4, and Johnathan, 2, will walk at least two kilometres a day, seeking donations for their efforts.
“Hopefully though I’ll do extra on my own, but I think 2kms is enough for the boys to walk a day,” Mrs Clements said.
Mercy Health Foundation started Pram Jam last year as a walkathon-style fundraiser to help prevent stillbirth and complications from babies being born prematurely.
The family-friendly, flexible initiative has no set location or time, with participants free to walk or run wherever and whenever they choose over the week.
“Some of my aunties and uncles are going to walk as well,” Mrs Clements said. “It gets everybody active.”
Mr and Mrs Clements said they had not realised the facilities available at the Mercy Hospital for Women until their family needed them.
“It is amazing,” Mrs Clements said. “It’s really overwhelming when you first get there because it’s huge, but all the nurses were really good, all the doctors were really good.
“Their social worker set us up with accommodation and all of that, so we weren’t out of pocket for much, which made it a lot easier when you don’t expect to go there.”
Mr Clements also praised all the staff during Kylin’s 15-day stay at the Mercy.
“Even though it was kind of crappy that we were there, it was nice that everyone supported you,” he said.
And how is Kylin now?
“Perfect,” Mrs Clements said with a smile.
- To donate to Kylin’s Walkers in the Pram Jam, go to pramjam2017.everydayhero.com/au/brooke