When Lina and her husband Kon were told they were having triplets, they were thrilled and nervous.
“Not only were we becoming parents for the first time but we were at the extreme end of the scale – three babies and a high-risk pregnancy. Being somewhat naïve about what was in-store was a good thing,” Lina says.
At 12 weeks, Lina’s pregnancy took a turn for the worse and she was admitted to Mercy Hospital for Women (MHW) to save her triplets. She required complete bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy.
Lina and Kon with their newborn triplets at Mercy Hospital for Women
On 3 June 2001, at 28 weeks, Lina’s triplets, Grace, Nicholas and Jack, prematurely entered the world. Each precious baby weighed around a kilo and was too fragile to survive without medical attention. They were quickly transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where they spent 12 weeks receiving lifesaving, around-the-clock care.
“There was a nurse called Lyndall, she kept assuring me that our babies were progressing well. I would have struggled without her support and I will never forget her,” Lina says.
For Lina and Kon, it was a worrying and frightening time. Not knowing if their babies would hit milestones and if they would face lifelong challenges.
Thanks to the amazing staff at MHW, Grace, Nicholas and Jack successfully graduated through every stage of their NICU journey and were able to be discharged at what would have been 40 weeks gestation – their due date.
“The NICU staff are very special and highly skilled people. We can’t thank them enough, even after all these years, for giving us the joy of being able to bring all three of our babies home,” Lina says.
Today, over two decades later, Grace, Nicholas and Jack are healthy, happy and thriving young adults in their final years of university.
L-R: Nicholas, Grace, Kon, Lina and Jack at the triplet’s 21st birthday
Last year, the triplets celebrated another important milestone – their 21st birthdays. To their loving parents, they are three miracles who overcame the most incredible odds.
“In our Will, we wanted to acknowledge the contribution the NICU made to our family. At every milestone and with every achievement our children experience in life, I think of the role Mercy Hospital for Women has had in our joy, and am forever grateful,” Lina says.
Mercy Health Foundation has been blessed by many donors, like Lina, who have paid tribute to the care Mercy Health provided – supporting us to ‘care first’.
Your gift, no matter the size, will make a difference and allow Mercy Health to do even more to care for those in need.
If you are considering including a gift in your Will to Mercy Health Foundation, it would be our pleasure to confidentially discuss this with you. Please contact us at the details below:
Mercy Health Foundation
03 8416 7766 | foundation@mercy.com.au
mercyhealthfoundation.org.au
Last reviewed June 13, 2023.