Table Top's Breanna O'Bryan was caught off-guard when she found out she needed to give birth to her son, Harvey, five weeks earlier than anticipated.
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"I had him at 35 weeks and unexpectedly," she said.
"I had literally left work to have an ultrasound and then I was told I couldn't go home and he was going to be coming today.
"I was just in disbelief and a bit scared, I didn't know what to expect, and it was all happening so fast."
Mrs O'Bryan said she didn't have time to think about anything, including where she would stay while Harvey was in hospital.
She was trying to figure out what to do when the co-ordinator of the Wodonga Ronald McDonald House invited her to apply for a room, so she wouldn't have to travel up to 40 minutes each way between home and the hospital to feed Harvey every two to three hours.
Ronald McDonald House is a charity organisation which aims to help keep families travelling for medical treatment under the one roof and close to the hospital.
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Mrs O'Bryan, who had no family nearby except for her husband, said the support of the charity volunteers made everything easier straight after giving birth.
"I stayed at the house for a whole three weeks," she said.
"They were amazing.
"The volunteers, they were there if you wanted to talk, but they didn't force themselves on you.
"They would always leave these special little treats.
"This one lady, I don't even know her name, she would always leave scones with jam and cream on my bedside table."
Ten months later, Mrs O'Bryan found herself in Melbourne's Monash Ronald McDonald House when Harvey was flown to hospital with meningitis.
"It was just taking the stress and the pressure of everyday life off you," she said.
"So you could just focus on your child and not have to worry about anything else."
Mrs O'Bryan said Harvey is now a happy, healthy soon-to-be three year old.
Last week, Mrs O'Bryan raised $700 worth of hygiene products with the help of family and friends and donated them back to Ronald McDonald House.
Between midday Thursday and Friday the Ronald McDonald House Charities Victoria and Tasmania will be having a 24-hour Matched Giving Day Appeal.
Mrs O'Bryan has asked for others to donate then too, as any contributions will be doubled by corporate sponsors to mark the 35th anniversary of the charity, which has helped more than 500,000 sick youngsters and families.
Donate at www.strongertogtherappeal.com.au or call (03) 9966 8420 during the 24 hours of the appeal.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark https://www.bordermail.com.au/
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Table Top's Breanna O'Bryan was caught off-guard when she found out she needed to give birth to her son, Harvey, five weeks earlier than anticipated.
"I had him at 35 weeks and unexpectedly," she said.
"I had literally left work to have an ultrasound and then I was told I couldn't go home and he was going to be coming today.
"I was just in disbelief and a bit scared, I didn't know what to expect, and it was all happening so fast."
Mrs O'Bryan said she didn't have time to think about anything, including where she would stay while Harvey was in hospital.
She was trying to figure out what to do when the co-ordinator of the Wodonga Ronald McDonald house invited her to apply for a room, so she wouldn't have to travel up to 40 minutes each way between home and the hospital to feed Harvey every two to three hours.
Ronald McDonald House is a charity organisation which aims to help keep families travelling for medical treatment under the one roof and close to the hospital.
Mrs O'Bryan, who had no family nearby except for her husband, said the support of the charity volunteers made everything easier straight after giving birth.
"I stayed at the house for a whole three weeks," she said.
"They were amazing.
"The volunteers, they were there if you wanted to talk, but they didn't force themselves on you.
"They would always leave these special little treats.
"This one lady, I don't even know her name, she would always leave scones with jam and cream on my bedside table."
Ten months later, Mrs O'Bryan found herself in Melbourne's Monash Ronald McDonald House when Harvey was flown to hospital with meningitis.
"It was just taking the stress and the pressure of everyday life off you," she said.
"So you could just focus on your child and not have to worry about anything else."
Mrs O'Bryan said Harvey is now a happy, healthy soon-to-be three year old.
Last week, Mrs O'Bryan raised $700 worth of hygiene products with the help of family and friends and donated them back to Ronald McDonald House.
Between midday Thursday and Friday the Ronald McDonald House Charities Victoria and Tasmania will be having a 24-hour Matched Giving Day Appeal.
Mrs O'Bryan has asked for others to donate then too, as any contributions will be doubled by corporate sponsors to mark the 35th anniversary of the charity, which has helped more than 500,000 sick youngsters and families.
Donate at www.strongertogtherappeal.com.au or call (03) 9966 8420 during the 24 hours of the appeal.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark https://www.bordermail.com.au/
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @bordermail
- Follow us on Instagram @bordermail
- Follow us on Google News.