Premature baby beats odds

Mother Brodie Soster with her daughter Billie who was born prematurely, is now a healthy 3.34kg. Photo: Supplied
Mother Brodie Soster with her daughter Billie who was born prematurely, is now a healthy 3.34kg. Photo: Supplied

A baby girl born at 25 weeks' gestation and weighing no more than a pound of butter, has overcome a number of setbacks and is about to head home to Australia for the first time with her West Coast-born mother.

Brodie Soster, who was seven when she moved from Runanga to the Gold Coast with her parents, Paul and Pauline Soster, was in Greymouth visiting family in October when she became dangerously ill and gave birth to daughter Billie four days later.

Billie weighed just 510g.

Fast forward almost six months and Billie is now a healthy 3.34kg.

Ms Soster said baby was doing "really well".

"It is 21 weeks since Billie was born and she is going to make a full recovery, which in itself  because she was so premature is quite amazing."

She has had many blood transfusions, been dosed up on steroids and suffered from an infection soon after she was born.

"We nearly lost her early and now we are getting ready to take her home. It is very exciting," Ms Soster said.

Billie has a chronic lung disease and has been on a ventilator for six weeks.

When Billie was born 25 weeks prematurely she weighed no more than a pound of butter. Photo: Supplied
When Billie was born 25 weeks prematurely she weighed no more than a pound of butter. Photo: Supplied

"Her lungs will recover. She is still on oxygen and is expected to be perfectly healthy, somewhere between eight and 18 months."

While many premature babies suffered ongoing problems, Ms Soster was told that Billie's brain and eyes were fine.

"We are very, very lucky."

Until the last few days she had been fed through a tube but was now being breastfed.

"Billie is going quite well, but does get really tired."

Billie's dad Scott, an Australian, was with them for four months but he had to head back home for work.

"We are looking forward to getting home and being a family. It will be great."

Before that happens, though, Billie will have to spend time in hospital in Brisbane.

"Hopefully we will get a medical transfer back to Brisbane in the next two weeks."

First, they need to sort Billie's passport and as she was born in New Zealand like her mum, hers will also have the silver fern on it.

 - Viv Logie

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