A baby girl born so premature she was no bigger than an adult hand will spend her first Christmas at home after finally being released from hospital.
Lani Daniel, 17 months, has spent her entire life at Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick since she was born at 24 weeks in March 2018.
Weighing 694 grams as a newborn with chronic lung disease and a bowel obstruction, her survival was touch-and-go.
Emma Hutchinson, 30, prayed that her youngest child would make it to the end of each week as she battled multiple setbacks over the months in the intensive care unit.
Lani Daniel (pictured at a day old) was the size of a tub of butter when she was born at 24 weeks in March 2018
Now weighing 10.6 kilograms, the family have received their best present early as they prepare to share in the excitement of Lani’s first Christmas at their Leichhardt home in Sydney’s Inner West.
‘There have been so many times we thought it would never happen,’ Ms Hutchinson told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Lani was meant to come home for Christmas last year but she ended up getting sick and spent the next year in hospital.’
‘Finally in October this year, she was discharged from hospital and even though she went back in after getting sick, she will be home this time for Christmas which will be very special because it is her first one home.’
Big sister Layla, six, and brother Hayden, four, are ecstatic their sibling is out of hospital and have played an active role in helping her adjust to her routine.
Emma Hutchinson, 30, (pictured with Lani at five-months-old) said there were times the family thought the now-toddler would never get to spend a Christmas at home
‘All the kids are excited to all be together for once,’ Ms Hutchinson said.
‘Her brother and sister are over the moon. In the morning, they love to go into her room and turn the ventilator machine off.
‘I’m just looking forward to Christmas morning when they all wake up together in the same place. It is a mad house most of the time but I wouldn’t have it any other way.’
Despite Layla’s excitement, the mother-of-three suspects that she is secretly disappointed they have changed their yearly-Christmas plans to see out Lani’s first Christmas at home.
Lani’s older sister Layla, 6, and brother Hayden, 4, are ecstatic to have her home and have been helping their mother get her ready each day
‘I think Layla’s sad that the they won’t get to see the Wiggles this year. She keeps saying “mum I think Lani wants to see the Wiggles”,’ Ms Hutchinson laughed.
Ms Hutchinson’s water broke at 20 weeks but the now-toddler held on for four more weeks.
In her short life, she has battled through numerous procedures, three surgeries and CPR twice but her fighting has continuously prevailed.
With underdeveloped lungs, respiratory viruses would spark serious medical episodes and there were times in ICU she was so unwell she could not be taken into the operating theatre.
Hayden and Layla are enjoying having Lani (pictured at seven-months-old) around after only having brief interactions with their little sister during her time in hospital
Ms Hutchinson said Lani has gotten stronger and will still go to hospital check ups, but not as often as before.
As she gets older, doctors expect her lungs will strengthen and she will not be as susceptible to getting sick.
While the family are stoked to have Lani back, Ms Hutchinson said she will be sorely missed by her nurses, who she credits with keeping her daughter alive.
‘They’ve had such a big impact in her life and with me,’ she said.
‘They miss her so much. Without them we probably wouldn’t be here.’
Doctors expect that Lani’s lungs will strengthen as she ages which will give her greater immunity against respiratory illnesses