The life-saving story of our little warrior, baby Frankie.

First-time mum Hayley was well aware her pregnancy was high-risk, but nothing could have truly prepared her for the day baby Frankie made her entrance into the world, arriving far too soon at just 24 weeks and weighing a mere 550 grams— so tiny and fragile that Hayley wouldn’t be able to hold her baby for 7 whole days.

Frankie reaches out for comfort, the size difference between Frankie’s dad’s hand, and Frankie’s tiny hand almost unbelievable.

The moment Frankie was born, it was clear she was in severe danger. She required immediate and extensive resuscitation, her fragile life teetering on the edge. Her tiny body was placed in the care of the dedicated medical team at the Gold Coast University Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, who fought tirelessly to keep her alive. Frankie’s survival depended on a delicate balance of skilled hands, compassionate hearts, and critical equipment—much of which had been generously funded by Gold Coast Hospital Foundation. Without the donated Servo-n Ventilator System, Giraffe OmniBed, and Transcutaneous Carbon Dioxide Monitors, Frankie might not have survived those first terrifying days and weeks.

NICU nurses Helen and Julie stand with the donated Giraffe OmniBed and Servo-n Ventilator System, thrilled with the new additions to their department.

When Dr. Peter Schmidt, the Director of Neonatology, broke the heart-wrenching news to Hayley and her family, he did so with honesty and empathy, urging them to hold onto hope. “In these situations, my job is to be honest about the challenges, but I always remind parents that their job is to keep hope alive,” he said, knowing that hope was often the main thing keeping families afloat during such difficult times.

At just 24 weeks, Frankie faced daunting odds, with only a 65% chance of survival. Her lungs were barely developed, far too immature to handle the work of breathing on their own. “At this stage, the lungs would normally still be filled with fluid, growing and maturing within the safety of the womb,” explained Dr. Schmidt. “A baby born this early faces multiple challenges, but the lungs are often our biggest concern.”

As Frankie’s medical team guided Hayley through each critical milestone, they made sure to prepare her for the unpredictable journey ahead. “Premature babies can have what they call a ‘honeymoon period’ where they appear to be doing well, and you start to believe everything will be okay,” Hayley recalled. “The doctors were so good at explaining this to us, helping us brace ourselves for the complications that inevitably came.”

To give Frankie’s underdeveloped lungs the best chance of survival, she was placed on continuous oxygen and given vital medications, including —a life-saving substance that fully developed lungs produce naturally. Yet despite the medical team’s best efforts, there were times when they reached the limits of what they could do. “With babies like Frankie, we sometimes exhaust all options, and all we can do is hope our treatment plan will be enough,” Dr. Schmidt shared. “Frankie did reach that point.”

During those dark, uncertain nights, Hayley would call the NICU staff repeatedly, unable to sleep from the worry that consumed her. When Frankie’s condition was especially dire, Hayley refused to leave her side, spending sleepless nights next to her tiny daughter’s incubator. “I don’t even know to describe how you feel,” said Hayley, remembering those sleepless nights. “You just have to get through it and stay positive for your baby, so you do. All I could do was put my faith in the doctors and the nurses, this is their job, and I know they’re doing everything they can for her. We’re very, very grateful to be at this hospital.”

The support from Frankie’s medical team was invaluable during Frankie’s time in NICU and the Special Care Unit. They not only cared for Frankie but also offered reassurance and a sense of community to Hayley. “The doctors and nurses are so fun. They become like your family. I couldn’t have asked for a better team,” shared Hayley. Hayley’s admiration runs so deep for Frankie’s team she is considering a career change. “I am thinking about becoming a nurse now. They’re just incredible.”

One of Frankie’s first photos, along with some other moments captured from her time in hospital.

Frankie graduating from the NICU to Special Care was an emotional milestone for Hayley. Frankie, once so fragile and dependent on the Giraffe OmniBed, was now able to move to a Kanmed bed (also funded by Gold Coast Hospital Foundation), a step that also allowed Hayley to finally spend the night with her daughter in the hospital. This moment marked the beginning of Hayley feeling more like a “real mum.”

“When she wakes up at night, I’m right there with her. It feels more normal now. She’s trying bottles, and I can finally comfort her, and even give her baths. After all the time in the NICU, which became like a second home, it’s such a relief to be here and feel like a real mum. We’ve both come such a long way,” Hayley shared.

Yet, Frankie’s journey is far from over. A dedicated team of medical professionals continues to monitor her every step, ensuring she gets the best care possible. Hayley is overwhelmed with gratitude for the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation and the Gold Coast Health staff. “I can’t put into words how thankful I am to the Foundation and Frankie’s incredible team. Unless you’ve lived through this, you can’t truly understand how much it means. I couldn’t have asked for better people to care for her. I wish they could stay in our lives forever,” she said.

Each year, our Gold Coast emergency departments see over 187,000 people, including 39,000 children, which is why Scrub up September is dedicated to raising crucial funds to ensure local children, adults and babies, like our ambassador Frankie, have access to the best possible care when it’s needed most.

That’s why for the whole month of September, we’re scrubbing up like our doctors and nurses to help those in critical need with our Scrub Up September appeal. By making a donation or purchasing a $2 heart from participating partners, you can help us make a difference. Funds raised stay on the Gold Coast, going towards vital medical equipment and critical services for our local community.  Please make a donation and get your $2 heart today, it could be the difference to life of someone you know.