Walk for sick children

THERE is no doubt Conor Debenham owes his life to the team at Mater Mothers Neonatal Critical Care Unit.

Now six months old, Conor was born 14 weeks early weighing only 1.39kg.

His mother, Sally, said Conor was put on a ventilator in the critical care unit when he was born but was breathing on his own within a week and spent more than nine weeks in the critical care unit.

``We were just lucky he didn’t get any major problems,’’ she said.

``He just had to grow bigger.’’

Sally and her husband, Craig, their older son, Max, 6, and Conor will all take part in the Little Miracles 5k walkathon at South Bank Parklands to raise money for the sick children at the Mater. So far they have raised over $300.

``The Mater medical staff were fantastic as having a premmie baby who is in critical care is a daunting thing to go through but they couldn’t have made it any better. That’s why we decided to participate in the walkathon,’’Ms Debenham said.

``We wanted Max to get involved so he created an everday hero page to raise money to help other sick babies get better like Conor.’’

The five kilometre walk is now in its 20th year and hopes to this year raise $100 000 for sick

children and babies at Mater Childrens and Mothers Hospitals.

Each year, Mater Childrens Hospitals deliver exceptional care to 130 000 children and their families from

across Queensland. At Mater Mothers Hospitals, the Neonatal Critical Care Unit provides intensive

specialist care to 2000 premature and seriously ill babies each yearmany of which are flown in from

regional and remote areas.

To donate visit http://www.everydayhero.com.au/max_debenham, phone

1800 440 155 or

visit http://www.materfoundation.com.au

Source: whereilive