A NATIONAL organisation to support families with babies born prematurely was launched last weeks thanks to a dedicated and computer savvy-mum.
Julia Toivonen, 28, of Wantirna, worked solely on the National Premmie Foundation website – www.prembaby.org.au – and finished it last Thursday. The foundation was formed by six groups, including Melbourne’s Lifes Little Treaures, which Mrs Toivonen represents.
She also created the LLT website – www.lifeslittletreasures.org.au - and is in charge of maintaining the sites. She said the NPF would provide valuable support to families across Australia. “NPF will help people form their own support groups, provide information and interesting articles for parents to read, and raise funds for important research.”
Mrs Toivonen said many families caring for children with special needs were not aware that help was available. She knows only too well the difficulties a family faces after her son, Ronan, was born prematurely 18 months ago. He spent 100 days in hospital and had many complications, including chronic lung disease.
Crawling and walking are milestones in a child’s life, but for Ronan each one has proved a challenge. “He can crawl, but he can’t walk without something to hold onto”. The young battler has just started being able to sit comfortably after regular physiotherapy sessions.
Throughout her son’s development, she became motivated to help people in a similar situation and started a group called L’il Aussie Prems eight months ago. She also created a website dedicated to Ronan with pictures and updates on his progress.
He might not be able to walk unaided until he is two, but Mrs Toivonen has learnt to be patient.
Written by Will Wright – The Knox Journal
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