Micro-preemie Emilia needs your help

A LOCAL family is appealing to the community to help support its fundraiser for tiny Emilia-Rose, a premature baby who recently lost her mother to cancer after she was born. Every cent donated will go to covering her medical bills.

Tara-Mia Freeman, (22), and her boyfriend Ross Owen, were so excited to find out that they were expecting a baby, as doctors had previously told Tara she would never be able to have children. Tara was studying to be a pre-school teacher and loved and looked after children in her spare time.

Speaking to Berea Mail, Cindy Haughey, Ross’s aunt, said it was a wonderful surprise and they were very blessed to have a baby, however little Emilia was brought into the world at 27 weeks gestation as only months before, seemingly healthy Tara found out she had Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

“During the pregnancy Tara found out she had cancer. It was a shock and Tara battled it out with the rapidly spreading disease for two months, and tried to carry Emilia for as long as possible,” she said. Unfortunately, Tara’s condition declined so quickly and she was so weak, the doctors could not help her, and the call was made to deliver Emilia and let her fight for her life. She weighted 970 grams at birth.

“Tara passed away two weeks later, without ever having met her baby girl. Ross took videos of Emilia, which is the only way she got to see her. It is so incredibly sad. Emilia is now weighing just over 1kg and has already had a heart operation to fix a murmur. Ross is now supporting Emilia alone and is updating his family on her progress. He is battling emotionally, as he thought Tara would get better, but he is being strong for Emilia, and visits her every day,” said Haughey.

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She said, however, that the family is now facing the challenge of mounting medical bills.
Commenting on a fundraising page, page creator Jade Badenhorst, said: “This little girl was born to survive, she goes from strength to strength and deserves the best medical care to ensure she has the support she needs. Please help take this enormous financial pressure from Ross while he tries his best to become a new father, he will be able to focus on meeting her needs and being a great dad. Emilia continues to amaze us with her will to live.”

Haughey said: “All funds will go directly to Emilia’s medical costs. She is going to need to be in NICU until February 2021 and this is not fully covered by medical aid. We have also received donations of preemie nappies, which are still needed, as well as toiletries. We would be so grateful for any assistance.”

If anyone can help with donation of nappies and toiletries, they can contact Cindy on 072 998 8486.
To support the campaign, visit: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/baby-emilia.

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