Australia’s smallest known preemie baby on record. Elora de Bondi weighed 319 grams when she was delivered on 29th January 2007.
When Elora was born the length of her whole arm was not much bigger then her mummy’s finger. Being born 16weeks premmie at Royal Women’s Hospital in Victoria, many of the doctors doubted she would live. Her mother Adele although never gave up hope. At 20weeks Adele found out that something was not quite right while at her routine 20week scan. At this stage Elora was only the size of a 17weeker so she was already 3 weeks growth size behind those who were 20weeks gestation. Doctors provided steroides hoping that it would stimulate the babies growth and develop the very under developed lungs. Just 2 weeks later Adele was told that the placenta was dying and so was her baby girl because she was not able to receive the nutrients she needed to survive. Adele demanded a caesarean section even though this put her own life and fertility in jepordy as well as the life of her tiny premature baby.Tiny Elora was born at 24weeks in her mother’s womb. Elora spent 7 months in the NICU and spent most of this time attached to a ventilator. A number of times Elora came close to dying she had to contend with the usually premmie baby issues and she also battled multiple infections & renal failure. Adele was told many times to switch off the life support to her daughter but she refused. On the 27th August Miss Elora grew and astounded doctors and nurses and left hospital at 4.4kg. Before Elora became the smallest baby to survive there was a tiny Adriana Cassar born 13weeks prematur, and weighing just 374 grams 8 years ago. Elora is still being fed by a gastronasal tube and the immune system is very weak. Her Chronic Lung Disease (CLD) should clear during her years of continued growth.
I have had the pleasure of emailing Elora and her Mummy Adele for many months now. We met when I received a random email from them after Adele came across my site Moment By Moment I have watched update by update how much they have faced and the struggles they have had to overcome in their premmie journey. Through out Adele has always been a fantastic mother and I am extremely proud of her. The dedication of parents during these times is just amazing. I know personally how much you can go through and its just something you will do for your child. If you could remove them from it you would but you know you can’t so you stay with them and try to let them know you believe in them and will be there to face every single thing with them. We can see something within our children that many may not be able to see. Maybe its wishful thinking…. and some how it all works out or maybe it truely is we can see the spirit of our child willing and fighting away. I am honored to have witnessed these two amazing girls overcome what many thought could not be. I meet Adele by a random email via my website www.momentbymoment.com.au Moment by Moment A journey of a premature baby. I live in a totally different state to these girls (NSW) but I feel like I know them. I am so delighted to see this story and am very proud to have shared in their journey.Please support Royal Womens Hosptial or any NICU around the country, they do tireless work and need our support. Approximately 40,000 babies are admitted to Special and Intensive Care Nurseries each year in Australia for a variety of reasons.Approximately 21,000 of these babies are born prematurely. Around 6,000 babies require critical and intensive life support each year. Its a world that exists around you but until you are touched by it your none the wiser.Congrats to Adele, her family and Elora. Wishing you all a peaceful journey ahead. Thank you also to the Royal Women’s Hospital and staff. To the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), your dedication and hard work means more then parents could ever express to you.
11 Comments
Hi,
I was touched by the picture I saw and had to read the article/journal. I’m sure it was God’s will for Elora to live, to tell of His neverending Grace and Love for His children!
God bless you, Elora and her family!
(and Merry Christmas… in 19 days)
I’m in tiers
This is amazing. I love seeing small babies live. I just delivered a 13 ounce baby on 11/15/07. She 2 months old weighing 2 pounds 5 ounces now!
What a wonderful story.. its amazing how these little people have so much strength.
I just started reading this story. Oh my goodness what a little miracle Elora was and still is! My heart and thoughts go out to her and her family. I bet she is such a strong little girl to this day and has a fight in her like no other. Best wishes
I have just been looking through all these different things and this story amazes me !!!! what a strong little girl she is and such a tough little fighter, congratulations you dear little miracle and stay strong.
Big hugs and kisses to you
Rhonda.xxxxxxxxxx
My 2nd child was a premmie baby in 2006 she was born 12wks early and is kicking goals and about to turn 4. I heard Eloras story and was so touched and interested, its just amazing how these little ones just have the will to keep kicking goals and reach milestones. I’m about to have my my 3rd child knowing the risks i face and all was going well until 2 wks ago when at my 20wk scan i was told my cervix had opened and my membranes had started to come through thank god they caught it when they did so i now have h stitch to keep my cervix closed and just have to rest i’m now at 22wks and still going so all going well i will go full term we will just have to wait and see.
hi fiona i am ali burns dad was wondering how the two girls r now ali was 2 last week and is slowly putting on the weight now 8 kilos but so active ,if possible ,is there an email address we can contact the mothers or fathers just to see how they are progressing
Hi Sarah, Thanks for laving a comment. Elore is something isn’t she? My 2nd was prem and also born in 2006 as well as 12weeks early too!
I hope that you got through your pregnancy successfully and I would love to hear how you went.
Take Care
Fee xx
Hi Steve I am in contact with the Elora’s Mum and I might feature them in a story…watch this space!
Hi there
My grand daughter is 2 weeks old today born 17 weeks early in New Zealand NICU, my daughter and her partner were told when they first arrived at the hospital via ambulance that when their baby arrived that they would not help her as they didnt not believe in saving under 24 week babies and they would give her a basket to put their dead baby in once she has died ( she was still moving inside and still had a strong heart beat )….you can imagine the horror that my daughter and her partner felt, as this was a baby they had tried to conceive for 6 months and was a planned baby, we fought the system for something to be done, the doctors relented and airlifted my daughter to auckland where again she was told that when baby was born they would not help her survive….my daughter by her scan date was 23 weeks and 0 days, she was 7cm dialated, babies feet where dangling through the cervix and also her membranes, but they were intacted, my daughter went through 4 days of labour refusing to push to make her 23 weeks and 4 days, i questioned the scan date, surely they maybe a question of error by a couple of days???? come on telling me that a couple of days are all that matters in actuallly trying to save a babies life??? I will also mention that her heat beat remained throughout all this at 157-160, she moved consistantly, my daughter placenta was attached just below her tummy button, and she had ruptured it due to a near fall, she also had E-coli present in her urine, we finally got a pedeatrician to agree that if our little girl was born in a good condition they would do everything they could to try and save her as long as it didnt comprimise quality rather than quanity of life, finally we had hope, we were told that if my daughter could hold on until Wednesday, 10th August 7.00am they would save their baby, and at 1.55pm our darling grand daughter entered this world feet first, curled up still in her sack, in great condition, she cried and was breathing, yes we do realise that we have a long road ahead, but all we wanted was for this little girl to be at least given a chance, to be told…your young you can have more children, and sorry but when you have this baby we will put her on your chest to die, she will proberly take 4 – 6 hours to die but she will die, how cruel is this!!!! We have had one bad day, she had 3 infections on day 13, she is responding well to antibiotics,and yes we are well aware that we will have more bad days we remain positive that this darling little girl who has fought so hard to be here will continue to do just that. Ronald McDonald House have been wonderful with accomadation and being close to baby which we are still blown away with, and enabling me to stay every weekend so i can be close for support, whats worrying is apart from us parents( grand parents) ( we live 3 hrs drive away) they have no support??