Maria Dima was just another expectant mother eagerly anticipating the birth of her second child. Then, on June 28 last year, everything changed.
That morning the Point Cook mother woke up feeling unwell but, initially, didn’t give it a second thought.
“I was feeling confused and was starting to see black dots in front of my eyes. Then I started having my first seizure and collapsed.”
Mrs Dima was rushed to Sunshine Hospital where she underwent a series of tests.
“I thought I had lost my baby,” she said. “I was told it may be pre-eclampsia and as soon I heard that I had a second seizure, which was worse than the first.
“The doctors later said they needed to get the baby out straight away otherwise she could die because my organs were starting to shut down.”
Diagnosed with the rare HELLP Syndrome, a severe form of pre-eclampsia involving a combination of liver and blood disorders, Mrs Dima delivered her daughter, Tayla Destiny, at just 30 weeks and weighing about a kilogram.
Transferred with her mother to the Mercy Hospital for Women in Heidelberg, Tayla spent the next five weeks in its neonatal intensive care unit.
Mrs Dima, her sister-in-law Pat Tartaglia and friend Sarah Ferreira are now organising an event to raise $30,000 to buy medical equipment for the unit, including a new incubator.
“This is my way of saying thank you. I feel very lucky and blessed to be here with Tayla today – it’s almost a miracle,” Mrs Dima said.
Tiny Miracles fundraiser
The Tiny Miracles fundraiser will be held at Taylors Lakes Hotel on May 30. Phone 0409 021 133 or visit the Facebook page.
