Little baby Lachlan was born at 24 weeks and one day old with his twin brother Brodie.
His parents Katrina and Kierren’s lives were turned upside down when their twins entered the world extremely early, with Katrina having gone into labor at 23 weeks and five days. The shock was immediate “I was absolutely devastated. I felt to blame and felt that I had let my babies down” said mum Katrina. Sadly, Brodie passed not long after birth.
Little baby Lachlan had a long and uncertain road ahead.
Katrina & Kierren lived over four hours away from where Lachlan was now receiving vital treatment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), they found themselves being welcomed to their new home-away-from-home at Roanld McDonald House Canberra.
“We were welcomed with unconditional love, everyone in the House was very understanding and always made sure we [were] ok, after losing one of our sons” says Katrina.
With the House located within 100m of Lachlan’s NICU crib, the family was able to be by his side day and night. “If RMHC did not exist, we would not have been able to stay by our sons side for the four months he was in hospital”.
As Lachlan got bigger and stronger Katrina and Kierren found themselves further settling into the community at the heart of Ronald McDonald House Canberra, “The House and everyone in it always made you feel like one big family” says Katrina. It is the little things that make the biggest difference at Ronald McDonald House. ‘The meals are always delicious, everyone sitting to eat dinner as a big family, meeting new friends that have now turned into family. The volunteers are always lovely, friendly & up for a chat, the staff are always friendly and approachable, it’s always a supportive and nurturing environment’ says Katrina and Kierren.
The family stayed at Ronald McDonald House Canberra for 117 days.
