A young woman is fighting for her life after she was struck with the flu, while her newborn son is yet to have a cuddle with his mother.
Sarah and Rob Hawthorn’s son was delivered six weeks early to give Mrs Hawthorn a fighting chance to survive.
The 33-year-old is in a critical condition at Alfred Hospital, Victoria, and is yet to hold her baby boy, who was born August 28.
Sarah Hawthorn (pictured) is fighting for her life after being struck down by the flu in August
Sarah and Robert Hawthorn’s (pictured) son was born through emergency six weeks early to give Mrs Hawthorn a fighting chance to survive
The 33-year-old (right) is in a critical condition at Alfred Hospital, Victoria, and is yet to hold her baby boy, who was born August 28
The Cobram mother, north of Victoria, caught the flu in her later stages of pregnancy, which has lead to other serious medical conditions.
A go-fund-me page was started with more than half of the $20,000 goal raised in one day, which will help the family with travel, accommodation, living and ongoing medical expenses.
Mrs Hawthorn’s sister-in-law Rachel Holt told The Border Mail the new mother was fit and healthy with ‘a cold some would say’.
‘She took every vitamin under the sun and did everything by the book during her pregnancy,’ Ms Holt said.
‘As the week progressed Sarah attended the doctors multiple times only to be sent home.’
The newborn baby has been nicknamed ‘Bomber Hawk’ until his mother wakes up to name him.
Relatives said the new mother saw doctors weeks before who only told her she had ‘a cold’
Mr Hawthorn has reportedly set up a bedside vigil for his wife (right) in ICU, almost 300 kilometres away from their home
Mr Hawthorn has reportedly set up a bedside vigil for his wife in ICU, almost 300 kilometres away from their home.
‘I am in awe of his strength, his courage and his outlook, despite the situation he is facing,’ Ms Holt told Herald Sun.
As a prominent member of Cobram Campdraft Club, the club shared their support for Mrs Hawthorn saying she is an ‘amazing girl’ who is ‘very highly valued’.
‘She always puts a smile on people’s faces with her beautiful personality,’ one friend wrote on social media.
There have been more than 13,000 cases of influenza in Victoria this year and at least ten people have died from flu related complications.