A mother's worst nightmare: Yasmine's story and the reality of preterm birth
Her tiny hands were no bigger than her parents' wedding rings and her fragile little body could fit in the palm of their hands. Born weighing 580 grams, she was small yet mighty enough to tackle the complex challenges a marathon 101-day stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit would bring for the brave micro preemie.
Ava's sudden introduction to the world was a life-and-death decision made by the world-class team of experts at Perth's King Edward Memorial Hospital. Up until three days prior to her hurried delivery via emergency classical caesarean section under a general anaesthetic, her mum Yasmine Phillips had experienced a smooth pregnancy where the expected side effects like morning sickness brought much comfort.
But a sudden onset of excruciating rib pain that would come and go, and bouts of vomiting, prompted Yasmine to visit a Geraldton emergency department while visiting relatives for Christmas. Doctors hoped it was merely festive food poisoning but warned they were preparing for a worst-case scenario of HELLP Syndrome, an uncommon and severe form of pre-eclampsia that can lead to life-threatening complications for both mother and baby.
For the safety of the unborn baby and mother, the pair were flown to Perth via the Royal Flying Doctor Service and transferred to KEMH where Yasmine's condition quickly declined, a HELLP Syndrome diagnosis was confirmed and a life-saving decision was made to deliver Ava.
'Those early days and weeks in the NICU were some of the most terrifying moments you can imagine,' Yasmine said.
'There was so much uncertainty and fear, and many worrying thoughts as we watched Ava breathing through a ventilator, covered in wires and confined to an incubator.'
Ava is one of more than 26,000 premature babies born in Australia every year with one in every twelve pregnancies ending too early.
'During Ava's three-and-a-half months in the NICU, it became like a second home to us and we felt so blessed to have had such an amazing team of people caring for our daughter who really celebrated every milestone and felt deeply every low,' Phillips said.
Chair of the Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance Professor John Newnham explains that preterm birth is the leading cause of death and disability in children up to five years of age in the developed world.
'Preterm birth is defined as birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy whilst early term birth is the 14-day period between 37 and 39 weeks of pregnancy,' he said.
In March of this year the Australian Government announced it was continuing its investment in Australia's world-first national program to safely reduce rates of early birth with $5.3 million to expand the Every Week Counts National Preterm Birth Prevention Collaborative.
'This program, which has been adopted in maternity hospitals all over Australia, brings together health professionals, First Nations leaders, quality improvement experts and those with a lived experience, to improve pregnancy outcomes for more women across the country,' Professor Newnham said.
Driven by the potentially life-long consequences of prematurity and HELLP Syndrome, Yasmine has joined the effort to help raise awareness of preterm birth.
Almost four years after the early arrival of Ava, she welcomed another little girl into the world. Sage spent a week in the NICU in the bed right next to where Ava spent the first few months of her life.
Due to the complications from her first pregnancy, doctors deemed it safest for Yasmine's second baby girl to be delivered at 37 weeks. But even with her experience, she stresses that nothing quite prepares you for a newborn baby being taken away to the NICU while you are stuck in recovery from a caesarean section.
'When we made it to our planned delivery date at 37 weeks, I thought everything had gone to plan this time around, so I took Sage's transferto the NICU really hard,' Yasmine said.
'Whether a baby spends one day, a week or 15 weeks in the NICU, there is an all-consuming worry that will not rest until everyone is hopefully home safe and under the one roof together.'
Identifying the early warning signs and providing timely interventions are critical to preventing preterm birth and its far-reaching impacts. To learn more about The Every Week Counts National Program, and the strategies being implemented to lower rates of early birth and make pregnancies safer for all women and babies, you can
visit the Every Week Counts website
.
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ABC News
3 days ago
- ABC News
More than 7,000 cases of the chikungunya virus have been recorded in China. What is it?
Over 7,000 cases of the mosquito-borne virus chikungunya have hit several cities in the south of China. The World Health Organization warned in July that a major chikungunya virus epidemic risked sweeping around the globe, calling for urgent action to prevent it. The outbreak began in China in late July with most of the cases in the Shunde district in Foshan. There are currently no travel warnings or notices related to the virus in place from the Australian government. Here's what you need to know about the virus and the current outbreak. Chikungunya is a virus spread by bites from infected mosquitoes, according to federal government website, healthdirect. The virus is carried by the dengue mosquito and the Asian tiger tosquito. It cannot be passed from person to person and is instead spread by infected female mosquitoes, which normally bite during daylight hours. Chikungunya outbreaks mostly occur in South-East Asia and parts of Africa. The virus was first identified in Tanzania in 1952. It then appeared in other countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia. To date, it has been reported in more than 110 countries. Symptoms tend to appear in 3 to 7 days after a bite from an infected mosquito. The most common symptoms are: Other symptoms include: Australians are most likely to get the virus while they are travelling overseas in areas such as: Mosquitoes able to carry chikungunya can be found in northern Queensland and the Torres Strait, but the disease has not been detected in mosquitoes in Australia yet. It is rare to die from chikungunya. Chikungunya can be more serious for people over 65 years of age, those with high blood pressure, diabetes or heart conditions, and newborn babies. There is no specific treatment for chikungunya but you can take pain-relief medications to help with joint pain. Most people get better without treatment. If you have chikungunya, it is important to avoid mosquito bites while you have a fever. This is to avoid passing the infection to another mosquito, which could then spread the virus to other people. Two chikungunya vaccines have been approved for use in some countries, including the US and the UK, but they are not widely available or in widespread use. Currently, the US is recommending vaccination for travellers visiting the Guangdong province and the UK says vaccination could be considered for certain people. Neither vaccine is available in Australia. You can reduce the risk of infection by avoiding mosquito bites with these measures: The Chinese government is taking similar precautions to those during the COVID-19 pandemic, and keeping patients isolated in hospital beds covered by mosquito nets, while conducting home visits to check there is no stagnant water lying around. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued advice on how to prevent chikungunya virus and dengue fever, a similar disease also spread by mosquitoes. Physical protection barriers, such as screen doors, mosquito nets and mosquito repellent on exposed skin, were recommended. It said that the epidemic was "imported", without specifying from where. The Chinese agency also called for people who have symptoms such as fever, rash and joint pain to see a doctor. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was planning to issue a travel notice for China as chikungunya cases rose. For now, it is recommending vaccination and advising pregnant people to reconsider travel to affected areas. Given the virus is not widely experienced in China, there has been some panic but officials say most cases have been mild so far, AP has reported. Local media reports said on Thursday that local authorities had almost doubled the number of mosquito-proof isolation beds to 7,220 to meet the growing demand. Authorities in Guangdong are urging residents to make sure there is no standing water in their homes, such as in flowerpots, coffee machines or spare bottles. The Health Commission in Foshan stated on Thursday that a fine of up to 10,000 yuan ($2,163.05) could be applied if violations were found. The Beijing CDC said on Tuesday that the city occasionally experienced imported cases of chikungunya fever.
The Advertiser
30-07-2025
- The Advertiser
Meet the Aussie teen hoping to be the youngest to fly around the world
In 2024, a 14-year-old Byron Waller flew around Australia. Now the young pilot has his sights set on conquering the world. The 15-year-old is aiming to become the youngest person ever to fly around the world. The trip begins on August 2 and will be in a four-seat, single-engine aircraft known as a Sling Tsi. Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, the Middle East and Europe are all on the bucket list. The jam-packed itinerary includes more than 30 countries across seven continents. The longest leg will be a 14-hour journey from California to Hawaii. For Byron, flying has always been a lifeline in a childhood filled with unexplained health challenges. "I missed school, sports, even birthday parties and Christmas because I was always in the hospital or too unwell to get out of bed," he told ACM. "Flying is not just something I love," he said. " It is the one thing that got me going when I was at my worst." Five years ago, Byron's family moved next to the Queensland Children's Hospital after realising they were waiting up to an hour for ambulances to reach their inner city home. He spent nine months in the hospital being treated, and then, a breakthrough with a Crohn's disease diagnosis - an inflammatory bowel disease that causes swelling and irritation of the tissues, called inflammation, in the digestive tract. "It explained everything, but it also nearly grounded my biggest dream: to become a pilot," he said. "There were days I needed a wheelchair," he said. Bryon described his 2024 trip around Australia was transformational. "It taught me how to be both a pilot and a decision-maker, someone who doesn't just fly the aircraft but also takes full responsibility for every choice made in the cockpit," he said. "I navigated across deserts, coastlines, mountain ranges and remote outback strips." That journey raised money for Queensland's Children's Hospital, which has been pivotal in his recovery. It also connected him with other young people who have encountered health challenges. "I saw the power of aviation," he said. "Whether it was meeting someone at a remote airstrip who shared their own health battles, or getting a message from a young person with Crohn's disease who felt inspired by what I was doing, I started to see flying not just as a personal goal but as a platform to raise awareness, connect, and to show that young people with invisible illnesses and other challenges you can literally rise above them," he said. The two-month trip around the world will no doubt be more arduous. Depending on the weather, it could potentially be even longer. Byron will be under the supervision of the flying instructor the whole way through and will need to carefully manage Crohn's disease. "Each leg has been carefully planned," he said. "I've been working with pilot mentors, aircraft mechanics, flight planners, air traffic authorities and border officials across multiple continents, and the logistics alone are enormous." The journey will raise money for the Mission Aviation Fellowship. "Through this journey, I hope to meet others facing similar struggles in the countries I visit, hear their stories and shine a light on the resilience it takes to keep going and keep showing up," he said. Byron's trip begins on August 2 from Brisbane, and you can follow his route and track progress here and donate to his GoFundMe to support him. As for his long-term goal? To be a commercial airline pilot. In 2024, a 14-year-old Byron Waller flew around Australia. Now the young pilot has his sights set on conquering the world. The 15-year-old is aiming to become the youngest person ever to fly around the world. The trip begins on August 2 and will be in a four-seat, single-engine aircraft known as a Sling Tsi. Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, the Middle East and Europe are all on the bucket list. The jam-packed itinerary includes more than 30 countries across seven continents. The longest leg will be a 14-hour journey from California to Hawaii. For Byron, flying has always been a lifeline in a childhood filled with unexplained health challenges. "I missed school, sports, even birthday parties and Christmas because I was always in the hospital or too unwell to get out of bed," he told ACM. "Flying is not just something I love," he said. " It is the one thing that got me going when I was at my worst." Five years ago, Byron's family moved next to the Queensland Children's Hospital after realising they were waiting up to an hour for ambulances to reach their inner city home. He spent nine months in the hospital being treated, and then, a breakthrough with a Crohn's disease diagnosis - an inflammatory bowel disease that causes swelling and irritation of the tissues, called inflammation, in the digestive tract. "It explained everything, but it also nearly grounded my biggest dream: to become a pilot," he said. "There were days I needed a wheelchair," he said. Bryon described his 2024 trip around Australia was transformational. "It taught me how to be both a pilot and a decision-maker, someone who doesn't just fly the aircraft but also takes full responsibility for every choice made in the cockpit," he said. "I navigated across deserts, coastlines, mountain ranges and remote outback strips." That journey raised money for Queensland's Children's Hospital, which has been pivotal in his recovery. It also connected him with other young people who have encountered health challenges. "I saw the power of aviation," he said. "Whether it was meeting someone at a remote airstrip who shared their own health battles, or getting a message from a young person with Crohn's disease who felt inspired by what I was doing, I started to see flying not just as a personal goal but as a platform to raise awareness, connect, and to show that young people with invisible illnesses and other challenges you can literally rise above them," he said. The two-month trip around the world will no doubt be more arduous. Depending on the weather, it could potentially be even longer. Byron will be under the supervision of the flying instructor the whole way through and will need to carefully manage Crohn's disease. "Each leg has been carefully planned," he said. "I've been working with pilot mentors, aircraft mechanics, flight planners, air traffic authorities and border officials across multiple continents, and the logistics alone are enormous." The journey will raise money for the Mission Aviation Fellowship. "Through this journey, I hope to meet others facing similar struggles in the countries I visit, hear their stories and shine a light on the resilience it takes to keep going and keep showing up," he said. Byron's trip begins on August 2 from Brisbane, and you can follow his route and track progress here and donate to his GoFundMe to support him. As for his long-term goal? To be a commercial airline pilot. In 2024, a 14-year-old Byron Waller flew around Australia. Now the young pilot has his sights set on conquering the world. The 15-year-old is aiming to become the youngest person ever to fly around the world. The trip begins on August 2 and will be in a four-seat, single-engine aircraft known as a Sling Tsi. Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, the Middle East and Europe are all on the bucket list. The jam-packed itinerary includes more than 30 countries across seven continents. The longest leg will be a 14-hour journey from California to Hawaii. For Byron, flying has always been a lifeline in a childhood filled with unexplained health challenges. "I missed school, sports, even birthday parties and Christmas because I was always in the hospital or too unwell to get out of bed," he told ACM. "Flying is not just something I love," he said. " It is the one thing that got me going when I was at my worst." Five years ago, Byron's family moved next to the Queensland Children's Hospital after realising they were waiting up to an hour for ambulances to reach their inner city home. He spent nine months in the hospital being treated, and then, a breakthrough with a Crohn's disease diagnosis - an inflammatory bowel disease that causes swelling and irritation of the tissues, called inflammation, in the digestive tract. "It explained everything, but it also nearly grounded my biggest dream: to become a pilot," he said. "There were days I needed a wheelchair," he said. Bryon described his 2024 trip around Australia was transformational. "It taught me how to be both a pilot and a decision-maker, someone who doesn't just fly the aircraft but also takes full responsibility for every choice made in the cockpit," he said. "I navigated across deserts, coastlines, mountain ranges and remote outback strips." That journey raised money for Queensland's Children's Hospital, which has been pivotal in his recovery. It also connected him with other young people who have encountered health challenges. "I saw the power of aviation," he said. "Whether it was meeting someone at a remote airstrip who shared their own health battles, or getting a message from a young person with Crohn's disease who felt inspired by what I was doing, I started to see flying not just as a personal goal but as a platform to raise awareness, connect, and to show that young people with invisible illnesses and other challenges you can literally rise above them," he said. The two-month trip around the world will no doubt be more arduous. Depending on the weather, it could potentially be even longer. Byron will be under the supervision of the flying instructor the whole way through and will need to carefully manage Crohn's disease. "Each leg has been carefully planned," he said. "I've been working with pilot mentors, aircraft mechanics, flight planners, air traffic authorities and border officials across multiple continents, and the logistics alone are enormous." The journey will raise money for the Mission Aviation Fellowship. "Through this journey, I hope to meet others facing similar struggles in the countries I visit, hear their stories and shine a light on the resilience it takes to keep going and keep showing up," he said. Byron's trip begins on August 2 from Brisbane, and you can follow his route and track progress here and donate to his GoFundMe to support him. As for his long-term goal? To be a commercial airline pilot. In 2024, a 14-year-old Byron Waller flew around Australia. Now the young pilot has his sights set on conquering the world. The 15-year-old is aiming to become the youngest person ever to fly around the world. The trip begins on August 2 and will be in a four-seat, single-engine aircraft known as a Sling Tsi. Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, the Middle East and Europe are all on the bucket list. The jam-packed itinerary includes more than 30 countries across seven continents. The longest leg will be a 14-hour journey from California to Hawaii. For Byron, flying has always been a lifeline in a childhood filled with unexplained health challenges. "I missed school, sports, even birthday parties and Christmas because I was always in the hospital or too unwell to get out of bed," he told ACM. "Flying is not just something I love," he said. " It is the one thing that got me going when I was at my worst." Five years ago, Byron's family moved next to the Queensland Children's Hospital after realising they were waiting up to an hour for ambulances to reach their inner city home. He spent nine months in the hospital being treated, and then, a breakthrough with a Crohn's disease diagnosis - an inflammatory bowel disease that causes swelling and irritation of the tissues, called inflammation, in the digestive tract. "It explained everything, but it also nearly grounded my biggest dream: to become a pilot," he said. "There were days I needed a wheelchair," he said. Bryon described his 2024 trip around Australia was transformational. "It taught me how to be both a pilot and a decision-maker, someone who doesn't just fly the aircraft but also takes full responsibility for every choice made in the cockpit," he said. "I navigated across deserts, coastlines, mountain ranges and remote outback strips." That journey raised money for Queensland's Children's Hospital, which has been pivotal in his recovery. It also connected him with other young people who have encountered health challenges. "I saw the power of aviation," he said. "Whether it was meeting someone at a remote airstrip who shared their own health battles, or getting a message from a young person with Crohn's disease who felt inspired by what I was doing, I started to see flying not just as a personal goal but as a platform to raise awareness, connect, and to show that young people with invisible illnesses and other challenges you can literally rise above them," he said. The two-month trip around the world will no doubt be more arduous. Depending on the weather, it could potentially be even longer. Byron will be under the supervision of the flying instructor the whole way through and will need to carefully manage Crohn's disease. "Each leg has been carefully planned," he said. "I've been working with pilot mentors, aircraft mechanics, flight planners, air traffic authorities and border officials across multiple continents, and the logistics alone are enormous." The journey will raise money for the Mission Aviation Fellowship. "Through this journey, I hope to meet others facing similar struggles in the countries I visit, hear their stories and shine a light on the resilience it takes to keep going and keep showing up," he said. Byron's trip begins on August 2 from Brisbane, and you can follow his route and track progress here and donate to his GoFundMe to support him. As for his long-term goal? To be a commercial airline pilot.
The Australian
29-07-2025
- The Australian
EMVision to start two key studies
EMVision receives ethics approval for two studies that will advance prototype First Responder toward commercial production Studies designed to demonstrate First Responder brain scanner can fit into emergency workflows and collect valuable data in pre-hospital setting EMVision non-dilutive milestone payment received under Australian Stroke Alliance Project Agreement Special Report: EMVision Medical Devices has passed a major milestone with ethics approval granted for two key studies to advance its First Responder prototype portable device to detect stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI). EMVision Medical Devices (ASX:EMV) said the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) pre-hospital aeromedical study and Melbourne Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) study would advance its First Responder brain scanner toward commercial production. The studies are designed to demonstrate that the First Responder device can fit seamlessly into emergency workflows and collect valuable data in the pre-hospital setting. First Responder is EMVision's second device and designed to address significant unmet needs in stroke and TBI care by enabling earlier triage, transfer or treatment decisions at the scene. The device is being advanced in parallel with its emu bedside scanner to rapidly diagnose stroke at the point-of-care, which is currently in a pivotal trial to support US Food and Drug (FDA) de novo (new device) clearance. RFDS pre-hospital aeromedical study Ethics approval has been granted for a feasibility, usability and workflow implementation aeromedical study. The study is a collaboration of RFDS, South Australia Ambulance Service's emergency retrieval service MedStar, South Australia Health's Rural Support Services, the Royal Adelaide Hospital and the Australian Stroke Alliance. The study will evaluate the First Responder device's usability, reliability, functionality, workflow metrics and other tests as necessary to meet user and international regulatory requirements. EMVision said the study was on track to start recruitment this quarter, with study results expected to be reported next quarter. Melbourne Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) Ethics approval has also been granted for a First Responder study during acute suspected stroke cases attended by the Melbourne Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU). EMVision said the study provided a unique opportunity to collaborate with the only MSUs in Australia and one of a few MSUs globally who participate in clinical research. The study aims to evaluate the use of First Responder during pre-hospital emergency response to acute suspected stroke patients, while gathering contemporaneous ground-truth MSU CT-scan data. This study is forecast to start later this quarter. Milestone payment of $400,000 from ASA In a further boost EMVision has reached a key development milestone under its project agreement with the Australian Stroke Alliance (ASA), supported by the Federal Government's Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). The company has received a $400,000 non-dilutive payment for completing the Telemedicine and Road/Air Integration milestone, an achievement that advances its First Responder portable brain scanner program. EMVision's CEO Scott Kirkland said the company was delighted to report successful achievement of the important milestone, which brings together the power of its point-of-care neurodiagnostic capabilities with the reach of telehealth. 'This combination has the potential to transform patient workflows and outcomes, particularly in the pre-hospital setting,' he said. 'In the coming months, EMVision will be conducting several studies to progress development of its First Responder device, which will be integral to expediating its commercialisation via the FDA 510(k) regulatory pathway. 'We look forward to communicating the results of these studies to the market in due course.' First responder pathway to market entry Source:EMVision This article was developed in collaboration with EMVIsion, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
