The Northern Territory news Fri 24 Mar 2023
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2023-03-24
English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin.; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin.
News Corp Australia
Darwin
application/pdf
Copyright. Made available by the publisher under licence.
News Corp Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/908379
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/908560
NTNEWS.COM.AU Friday March 24 2023 NEWS 15 V1 - NTNE01Z01MA upon their arrival back in the Territory. When we got back to Darwin there was quite a few specialist doctors that were shocked to see him, Tegan said. He has blown us away. Though his health issues still remain, Tegan says they havent stopped him. Hes got barriers and barriers that have come from him being so premature, she said. We have found out recently that he had a hearing impairment it has turned out that hes got severe if not profound deafness. Levi is also attached to a feeding tube and oxygen tank following complications with his bowels and lungs. He is showing early signs of cerebral palsy. But he is full of life, and he can sometimes be full of atti tude, but its the cutest attitude, Tegan said. Naturally hes a pretty happy baby. According to the latest available data, about 10 per cent of babies born in the Northern Territory were considered preterm. The rate of Aboriginal mothers giving birth to premature babies was twice that of non-Aboriginal mothers at 16 per cent. Most of these babies born before 37 weeks gestation will require some sort of medical intervention to survive. For babies born in the Northern Territory this often means travelling to receive the care needed. Which is where organisations like the Humpty Dumpty Foundation are vital. By providing equipment to hospitals the foundation are able to help about 20,000 children in Australia on any given day. Children like Levi. The travel cot that he was in to get to Brisbane, the ventilator, the heart rate monitors were fully donated by Humpty Dumpty foundation, Tegan said. They are hugely important, especially up here. Humpty Dumpty founder Paul Francis said the charity relied heavily on donations and fundraising events to pay for the lifesaving equipment. To date in the Northern Territory alone, the Humpty Dumpty Foundation has provided over 670 pieces of medical equipment valued at $6.5 million, he said. Donations come from the generosity of corporate organisations and individuals who make up Humptys family. Just like those first few months of his life, his parents will be there to support Levi in the fight against any future health challenges that may come his way. But both Tegan and Rod said they in turn were hugely supported by loved ones and the structures around them. To be honest I think that if we didnt have those pieces of equipment, we wouldnt be sitting here having this conversation I think it goes under appreciated in the sense that we didnt know it existed until we had to go through it ourselves, Rod said. To everyone who played a role in getting in to where he is now thank you is an understatement. Its been a bumpy eight months, but its all been for him, he says while looking into his sons beaming face. For mum, its about being able to celebrate the small things. Having a baby born at 740 grams and being the size of a bottle of coke, apart from that being ridiculously scary, (it means that) when he does reach a kilo or two kilos or finally reaches full feeds, its the small things that youre most grateful for. Levi is loaded into the Careflight plane in a travel cot donated by the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, above, and Levi during his stay in the NICU, top right. Pictures: Supplied Seafood Friday 7th April from 6pm at Tali Restaurant GOOD FRIDAY Buffet 93 Barrett Drive Alice Springs I Lasseters.com.au I @Lassetersau Book Now Stickytickets.com.au Bu et includes a selection of hot & cold dishes plus a mixed selection of Prawns, Oysters, Blue Swimmer Crab & more! $99 Per Person $30 Per Child (12 years & under) *Plus Booking Fee Map-Marker-Alt Parrtjima, Alice Springs download red centre events calendar www.discovercentralaustralia.com