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WIRF is one of Australia's leading organisations that is dedicated to improving the health of women and infants.

A mother's message

georgie_turco2-(1).jpgMy name is Georgie and I am a mother.

I am often asked when I meet people and the topic of children arises, ‘how many children do you have?’ My response – I have two children. 

Sometimes that is the end of the conversation or other times a follow up question is asked, ‘how old are they? or where are they today?’ I then take a deep breath and say that we have our beautiful miracle baby Isla who is almost two and we have her brother, Baby Kai, who is in heaven. People will often apologise for causing distress or sadness, but in fact it fills me with pride to be given the chance to say my baby’s name.

I had what I thought was a ‘textbook’ or ‘normal’ pregnancy, I did not have morning sickness or cramping or anything out of the ordinary, that was until I reached 22 weeks and 4 days. 

It was a day I will never forget, I continue to relive it over and over, as tragic as it was, but I am afraid that if I don’t, then I will forget and forgetting is what scares me most. I drove myself to KEMH and once there, realised quickly that my child was going to be born preterm and most likely, would not survive. 

We gave him the chance to live, and if he was meant to then I believe he would have. Instead, I held this tiny 529gram 30cm long beautiful baby boy, who was born silent.

Some months after Baby Kai was born, I stumbled across WIRF whist searching online and decided to honour him on his first birthday by making a donation of Baby Bundles in his name. 

It is from this donation that my connection with WIRF has developed and grown. This organisation has connected me with some of the most incredible people I have ever met, they have given me a voice to speak of Baby Kai and keep his memory alive. 

The work this organisation does, especially in the area of preterm birth, is truly transformative. But some babies are still born too soon and we don’t know why. But we desperately need to. We must support their vital research to give hope to families like mine. 

I want my Isla to grow up in a world where she does not need to worry that she could potentially suffer the loss that I have. It is worth mentioning too, that my mum lost her son at 20 weeks to stillbirth. Imagine how harrowing it was for her to relive it 30 years later with her daughter going through exactly what she did. I am determined to do what I can to raise awareness so that I can protect my daughter from experiencing the tragedy her mother and grandmother have. 

Thank you for taking the time to hear my story, it is because of WIRF that you now know the name of my son. I read a quote once which I hold so close to my heart, it says ‘an angel in the book of life wrote down our baby’s birth and whispered as she closed the book… too beautiful for Earth.’ 

It would be incredible if no other mother ever had to hold this quote so close to her heart. 

 
Georgie and Daniel Turco's story

Georgina and Daniel Turco tragically lost their first born son, Kai in May 2018 after complications from his extremely premature birth.

Georgie continues to bravely share her story in the hope to help others and we thank her and Daniel from the bottom of our hearts.

“I had always wondered how I could make a difference and give back to those who helped us during our tragedy."

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Women and Infants Research Foundation
Carson House, King Edward Memorial Hospital
374 Bagot Road, Subiaco, WA 6008

Telephone: 08 6458 1437
Fax: 08 6458 1642
Email: info@wirf.com.au

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