Eleven years ago, tiny Andre Chan was born 16 weeks premature at Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH), weighing just 650g. For the next five months, the RNSH Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) became not only his lifeline, but a place of unwavering compassion, expertise and hope for his parents, Ariel and Marco.
At 17 weeks, Ariel began leaking amniotic fluid and was admitted to North Shore Private Hospital. By 19 weeks, she was transferred to RNSH for specialised care, including access to advanced neonatal intensive care services for extremely premature babies.
A fragile beginning, held by hope
When Ariel’s water broke at 22 weeks, she and Marco prepared for the worst. But in those critical moments, they were met with reassurance.
“When we arrived, Professor John Sinn came to see us,” Ariel recalls. “He told us that everything was treatable, and that it was going to be okay. That gave us confidence and calmed our fears.”
At birth, Andre was placed into a specialised NICU crib that became his home for five months. Weighing little more than an iPad, he was too fragile to be held. It would take weeks before his parents could cradle him for the first time.
For Ariel and Marco, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit became more than a clinical environment – it became a second family. Ariel remained by her son’s side day and night, while the NICU team cared not only for Andre, but for his parents, ensuring they were supported, rested and reassured during an incredibly challenging time.
Giving back to neonatal care
When Andre was finally strong enough to go home, Ariel and Marco felt a deep sense of gratitude. Wanting to give back in a meaningful way, they made a donation through the Kenneth and Lily Chan Family Trust to purchase a state-of-the-art Giraffe OmniBed Carestation – the same technology that helped save Andre’s life.
This innovative equipment is a hybrid incubator and radiant warmer that mimics the womb, creating a stable, protective environment for the most vulnerable newborns. Its advanced features reduce the need to move fragile babies, supporting not only survival, but healthy development.
Today, Andre is an energetic and thriving 11-year-old who enjoys tennis, jiu jitsu, all forms of history, drama and music. His survival was made possible not by one factor alone, but by Andre’s own extraordinary will to fight for life, together with the expertise of the NICU team and the advanced equipment that supported him through his most fragile months. He is a powerful example of what world-class neonatal care, combined with compassion, can achieve.
A lasting legacy for future families
Eleven years on, Ariel and Marco returned to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with Andre, and Marco’s mother, Lily. The visit was emotional, as they reconnected with some of the clinicians who once cared for them and saw how neonatal care continues to evolve.
Dr Eveline Staub, Head of Department, spoke about emerging research highlighting the importance of parental touch – even the gentle comfort of a parent’s presence can play a vital role in a baby’s development.
NICU Clinical Nurse Consultant Emily Macnaught remembers Andre well:
“At the time, he was one of the smallest babies we have cared for. He spent a long time on a ventilator, but he was a fighter. To see him now as a healthy 11-year-old is very special.”
Neonatologist Dr Mary Paradisis also recalls Ariel and Marco’s calm strength during a time filled with difficult decisions.
“From our point of view, the whole NICU team saved our son’s life,” Marco says. “We are incredibly grateful and giving back is the least we can do to support the neonatal unit that gave us everything.”
Building on this gratitude, Andre’s family has made a further generous contribution – funding a highly advanced ventilator for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the first of its kind in Australia. This specialised equipment will support premature babies with underdeveloped lungs, providing carefully controlled oxygen to help them breathe and grow stronger.
For Andre, the impact is simple and meaningful: he is proud that his family is helping other babies like him receive the very best care.
If you would like to support the RNSH Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and help more vulnerable newborns receive life-saving care, please make a donation.
