By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
CASEY single mum Simone can’t put a price on the love for her son.
Five-month-old Isaac was born prematurely at 27 weeks with a hole in his heart and, as a result, suffers from chronic lung disease.
The little boy relies on five litres of continuous low flow oxygen administered through nasal prongs to stay alive.
Unable to work full-time to be able to care for Isaac, Simone also needs to check on her son every 20 minutes or so throughout the night.
This was before TLC for Kids recently provided Simone from Narre Warren South with a video baby monitor to help her to check on Isaac.
It comes as TLC for Kids joined several Bakers Delight stores in Endeavour Hills, Berwick and Narre Warren to take part in Bundraiser Day last Saturday 14 March.
For this event, at least $1 for every pack of hot cross buns sold will be donated to TLC for Kids to go towards helping sick children and their families.
Simone, 26, is one of those in need.
She was rushed to hospital two months before Isaac was due to arrive, not knowing if her baby would survive.
“I was beside myself; I did nothing out of the usual. I was sitting down at dinner with my family and then it happened,” she said.
“I said to my mum to take me to hospital straight away.
“And at Berwick Hospital, they couldn’t tell me if he was going to be OK.”
When Isaac was born, he was taken to the Royal Women’s Hospital where he had to stay for more than 100 days.
“Every day I went into the hospital, in the 108 days I had about eight days off,” Simone said.
“Day in, day out, from morning till night. I felt guilty leaving.
“If I could have brought my own blow-up mattress, I would have.”
Simone raises Isaac with great help from her parents and brother, at home in Narre Warren South.
“My family are fantastic, honestly I don’t know where it’d be without my parents – they’ve been my rock,” she said.
“This is by far the hardest thing I’ve done, but it’s also the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.
“You have so much more love for your child, there’s no price on your child.
“The amount of costs I had to pay, there’s no price.”
