Sarah and Sean Campbell were living in Goondiwindi when Sarah fell pregnant with Jacob in 2005.

After weeks of travelling to Inverell to see Dr Robert Palmer for regular checkups the decision was made to send Sarah for another extensive ultra-scan.

“My husband Sean and I sat in the waiting room knowing that the news wouldn't be good,” Sarah said.

“After only a few moments into the scan I watched the lady’s face turn from concentration to a panic. She slowly stood up trying not to alarm us and said very quietly, ‘I'll just make a phone call’.

“I looked at Sean and my heart broke, I knew this little baby was alive but I didn't know for how long,” she said.

It was the beginning of a testing time for them both. Dr Palmer sent them home to pack. They were sent to Sydney where more tests would be done to formulate a plan.

“My placenta had stopped working properly, my little baby was only getting enough blood and nutrient to support his tiny vital organs which meant that he didn't grow from around 20 weeks gestation,” Sarah explained.

“At the time that sounded so horrifying but I now think of it as incredible and I'm so thankful that my body didn't fail Jacob completely,” she said.

With all the tests complete doctors considered they had no choice but to deliver.

Sarah requested a transfer to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle where her aunt was a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurse; she was present at the birth and always there when Sarah needed her.

Sarah described her presence as a ‘gift’ and called her ‘Jacob’s angel’ but she was there for her niece too as events began to overtake her.

“I was in a daze, sitting in a bed waiting for our tiny son to be born far earlier than he should, he was our first baby and I had no idea what the coming months would bring,” Sarah said.

“Before the delivery, I stood in the shower washing myself with a disinfectant solution getting ready for surgery when I let myself cry, I was crying so hard I thought I'd never stop.”

© 2011 Inverell Times

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