When doctors told Taylah Bills and Jordan Hornesy their baby might not survive and asked whether they wanted to terminate the pregnancy, the young couple wasted no time declining.
“It was a no-brainer,” Ms Bills says.
“We’re going to fight for our baby’s life.”
It’s been an upward battle ever since.
Ms Bills gave birth to Ollie four months ago, but he’s been in an induced coma for most of the time since.
The Bacchus Marsh trooper has had six open-heart surgeries, cardiac arrests, multiple blood clots, blood poisoning, a perforated bowel and blood transfusions.
It never gets easier.
“There are days when we think why did we put you through this, and we just want to pick you up and take you far away from all the pain and the hurt,” Ms Bills says.
“But there are also days when you have that big gorgeous smile on your face that lets us know you want to be here and you’re here to stay.”
Ollie has a complex heart disease, meaning his heart is small and underdeveloped.
At two months, he had a cardiac arrest and was resuscitated for 15 minutes.
The family have been told three times to say their goodbyes to little Ollie, but each time he pushes through and fights harder, Ms Bills says.
“He wasn’t meant to survive, but he did. He’s still in intensive care but is doing better than ever. He’ll need more surgeries and nothing’s certain, but he’s started to be a lot more alert. He smiles now.”
Life hasn’t been easy for the young parents, who are on a single income and have been staying at the Royal Children’s Hospital’s Ronald McDonald House at Parkville.
Friend Jessica Whelan started a GoFundMe page to help the Bacchus Marsh family with expenses.
“If we can make it just that little easier for them by taking some of the financial strain off their shoulders, we will have done our bit,” the GoFundMe page states.
“And [we] can leave them to spend their time giving Ollie all the love and affection the cute little man deserves.”
To donate, visit gofundme.com/29b3pec
