Last June, Brooklyn entered the world fighting for her life. She spent her first day in the NICU on breathing machines and another 12 hours in the Special Care Nursery at Gold Coast University Hospital. During her stay, doctors discovered a heart murmur and diagnosed her with Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). Brooklyn’s parents, Shelley and Dan, couldn’t be prouder of her progress.
“Brooklyn is a great little fighter and has come such a long way over the last year. We couldn’t be prouder of her! We are so grateful to the hospital staff and the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation,” said Shelley.
Brooklyn has made significant progress recently, with her medical team starting to wean her off the feeding tube, now only used for medication. She loves solid foods, especially ones she can pick up and eat herself.
“She’s a little miss independent, insisting on having whatever we have – she is loving KFC at the moment!” Shelley shared.
Brooklyn recently celebrated her first birthday, a milestone the whole family feels blessed to have reached. Shelley and Dan remain optimistic about Brooklyn’s future, confident that her joyful spirit will carry her through any challenges.
Monthly visits to the Gold Coast University Hospital’s feed clinic, where they see speech therapists, dietitians, physiotherapists, and paediatricians, have been invaluable for Brooklyn’s progress.
“It is such a relief to have her medical team in one place. The doctors and nurses have taken such incredible care of Brooklyn, and we can’t thank them enough for helping her reach her first birthday,” Shelley added.
Brooklyn’s heart condition remains stable, with doctors now monitoring it every three months instead of monthly. While surgery is still an option, the current plan focuses on her growth and development.
“Brooklyn always has a smile on her face and is still such a happy little girl. Nothing is going to stand in her way, that’s for sure,” said Shelley
A big Happy First Birthday to Brooklyn!