My Updates
In loving memory of baby Bella
Today marks the first anniversary of the due date of our beautiful baby girl, Isabella Milia. In memory of our cheeky monkey who we miss more than we knew possible, we would love to invite you to join us in supporting a cause that is very close to our hearts.
If Bella had been born on or near to her due date then the outcomes for her would likely have been far more manageable and predictable. Instead, Bella was born at just 27 weeks which gave her a rocky start to say the least, and added to this she also battled a variety of complications.
We were some of the lucky ones. Not everyone, everywhere, has access to the sorts of facilities, specialty equipment or specialist medical staff that were there for her. Nonetheless, we still experienced a relentless daily anxiety over whether particular life saving or life changing equipment for our baby girl would either become or remain available, and whether we would find any answers or solutions to the variety of things that were going on for her.
Babies born so early rely on years of research, the expertise of the medical specialists, highly skilled nursing staff and the state of the art medical equipment and procedures found in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) that are located within some of our major hospitals around the country. Bella spent her first few months in the NICU environment and it was while she was there we realised how great the need is for ongoing community funding to ensure there is enough specialised equipment that every baby born early might have the same chance at life that was gifted to our Bella. We can no longer count on our hands and feet how many touch and go moments there were for our precious little girl but she made it through those first few months with the support of the NICU.
Our time in the NICU with Bella has allowed us plenty of time to reflect on how things could be enhanced to make this very tough journey easier for other miracle babies and their carers. We can remember putting out the call to Bella’s grandma to try and whip up some covers tailored to the crib Bella was in because the NICU was short and instead using normal blankets that exposed the premature infant to potentially damaging lights. We recall the anguish every time the crib was coming up for maintenance as Bella might have been placed in an older crib that didn’t meet her needs as well or was more difficult for us to access to do something as simple as a nappy change or wipe her face. We remember well the shortage of fridge and freezer space for the storage of precious breastmilk as it was very difficult for us to transport it back to our home. We recall the constant musical chairs, hoping to land one of the few comfy ones every time there was a chance to hold or feed Bella.
Much of the enormously expensive equipment helping Bella to breathe, to monitor her vital signs and to keep her warm, were actually donated by generous individuals or community groups or fundraisers just like this. We were always grateful as we read the donor plaques on the myriad of high tech equipment that Bella relied on for her survival and our thoughts turned to those kind and generous souls who went before us in the fundraising effort to make this world a better place for our daughter.
We now know that every baby whose destiny it is to journey through the NICU as their introduction to life will have a fistful of challenges in front of them. These challenges can become monumental and often heart wrenching for their families. Continuing and contributing to the fundraising work that has been so successful in sending many babies home to their families will help to increase the chance for future good outcomes for each of these little ones and to relieve the anguish of their carers. This fundraising is important to support research, supply NICUs with lifesaving neonatal equipment and to raise awareness of premature birth and to celebrate all premature babies, both living and lost.
While the incredible team at the Royal Hospital for Women gifted Bella with the opportunity of life, they also gifted us with something very special - the gift of precious time with our baby girl. To hold her, to get to know her, to love her with all that we have, and to learn so much from her.
We hope in time we will have the strength to elaborate on the many challenges that Bella faced and the ones she ultimately overcame, because it is an inspiring story well worth telling. But for now, we would just like to sincerely thank, from the bottom of our hearts, the hundreds if not thousands of medical staff and volunteers involved in Bella’s care during her precious time with us and the enormous community effort behind the funding and operation of the medical facilities we called home for 14 months. We would also like to thank you, our beautiful friends and family, we would not still be standing without you.
We would love to be able to find ways to give back, and this is the best place we know of to start.
Thank you to my Sponsors
$1.02k
Anonymous Donor .
$1.02k
Billie Stevens
$1,000
Thilak Rathnayake Mudiyanselage
$520
Anne Maree & Paul
Billie and Dany, this is such a wonderful way to support the plight of premmie babies, and in memory of your lil beautiful Bella. ❤️
$520
Anonymous Donor
Your donation has been matched by an Anonymous Donor.
$520
Margaret Hastings
$520
Anytime Fitness
$520
Melissa & Brendan Peera
With all our love.
$520
Gitanjali Bajaj
With all our love xx
$520
Anonymous
Thank you so much for your donation in memory of Bella.
$520
Anonymous
Thank you so much for your donation in memory of Bella.
$520
Anonymous Donor
$520
Judy Jason Ella And Hannah
With love Judy Jason Ella and Hannah
$520
Anonymous Donor .
$312
Adelle & Tom
We love you Bella, Billie and Dany. X
$312
Anonymous Donor
Your donation has been matched by an Anonymous Donor.
$301
Shannon, Ryan And Pia
$301
Anonymous Donor .
$263.75
Howard And Sisi
Lots of love
$263.75
Anonymous Donor .
$211
Lisa Louie
Beautiful Bella, You will always have a special place in my heart, and so many more. May your light shine bright and your memory move mountains 🩵 All our love, Lisa, Sam and Tahlia xx
$211
Anonymous Donor
Your donation has been matched by an Anonymous Donor.
$211
Stephanie Irwin
You were so brave little Bella 🦋 In memory of you little one xox So proud of you Billie and Danny! Continuing to be so humble, giving and courageous. Love you both, Steph and Owen
$211
Cath & Lachie Hg
You have touched our lives forever Bella 🦋
$211
Gary And Amy Hastings
$211
Fiona O’riordan
As always you are all incredible xxxxxx
$211
Steph + Trent
Wonderful idea guys. So much love from the ambers xxxxx
$211
Maxine
We love you so much! <3
$211
Steven & Gill Grant
Thinking of you both as our hearts are broken.
$211
Alicia Lenart
In memory of the beautiful Bella xx
$211
Renee And Dan Fogden
We admire your strength and resilience and are grateful we are able to show our support.
$211
Rach Martin
Happy adjusted birthday to beautiful Bella! Sending love and light 🦋
$211
Darren Thorpe
$211
Rebecca & Brian Hastings
Beautiful Braveheart Bella ♥️♥️♥️♥️
$211
Anne & John
For our beautiful Bella
$211
Liz Mccarthy-jones
$211
Amanda Large
$211
Chris And Jenna Taylor
With love always! Xx
$211
The Meyers
For you beautiful Bella 🦋❤️ The Meyers
$211
Anonymous Donor
$211
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$211
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$211
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$211
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$208
Anne & Paul Dougherty
$208
Tennille Hay
$208
Ellie Bawden
Forever in our hearts ❤️
$208
Anonymous Donor .
$208
Anonymous Donor .
$200
Alexandra Doyle
Lots of love to you Billie and Danny xxx
$200
Melissa Mullaly
$200
Anonymous Donor .
$200
Anonymous Donor .
$200
Anna Smith
Lots of love Billie x
$200
Sally Page
$200
Shay Spencer + Tom Williams
Fly high Bella. All our love to your family. Xx
$200
Pauline & Bill
In loving memory of beautiful Bella ❤️❤️❤️
$200
Anonymous Donor
$200
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$200
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$200
Anonymous Donor .
$200
Sally Morony
$200
Anonymous Donor
Your donation has been matched by an Anonymous Donor.
$158.25
Patricia Hajjar
God bless you 🤍
$158.25
Nicole Maddocks
Thinking of you Billie and Dany ❤️
$158.25
Anonymous Donor .
$158.25
Anonymous Donor .
$105.50
Joel Hetherington
❤️
$105.50
Anonymous Donor
Your donation has been matched by an Anonymous Donor.
$105.50
Schipp Family
For the bravest little girl and her very incredible parents 🦋
$105.50
Mark Houston
$105.50
Bree Stonestreet
❤️❤️❤️
$105.50
Sarah Nicholson
$105.50
Sean Caffrey
$105.50
Merilyn Sotheran
Bless you all.
$105.50
Thilak Rathnayake
Great cause Danny
$105.50
Tasmina Alamgir
Thinking of you, your family and beautiful baby girl ❤️
$105.50
Lena Chapple
Beautiful Isabella. I’m sad we didn’t get to meet you. But you are so loved. May what comes next be a grand adventure for you (l).
$105.50
Lauren, Nick & Amelia
Such a precious, beautiful girl! And a wonderful cause that we are so happy to contribute to. Sending our love from Canada! Xx
$105.50
Jess Clarke
$105.50
Holly & Phil Baker & Keenan
❤️❤️❤️
$105.50
Anonymous Donor
$105.50
Anonymous Donor
$105.50
Anonymous Donor
$105.50
Anonymous Donor
$105.50
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$105.50
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$105.50
Anonymous Donor .
$100
Mrs Sally V Meier
🦋🦋🦋
$100
Anonymous Donor .
$63.30
Anne Maree & Paul
Billie and Dany, this is such a wonderful way to support the plight of premmie babies, and in memory of your lil beautiful Bella. ❤️
$63.30
Anonymous Donor
Your donation has been matched by an Anonymous Donor.
$63.30
Alana Kirkham
🤍
$63.30
Meena M
Thinking of you and your beautiful baby girl and family xxx
$63.30
Anonymous
$63.30
Ellie Radan
Xxx
$63.30
Kay Kerr
Forever in our hearts beautiful girl. 💕
$63.30
Olivia Rolleston
$63.30
Linda Griffin
Darling Billie and Dany What an incredible thing to do and your lovely girl would be super proud of you xxx
$63.30
Serge
God Protect you beautiful Princess Bella ❤️❤️❤️
$63.30
Georgia Hudson
$63.30
Tina Dix
In memory of Bella the Brave and her amazing mum and dad❤️❤️❤️
$63.30
Rach Baltussen
$63.30
Jessica England
$63.30
Alison Hickey
$63.30
Michelle Weeks
$63.30
Steph Gow
You’re in my thoughts, heart and prayers Billie, Dany and Bella ❤️
$63.30
Anonymous Donor
$63.30
Anonymous Donor
$63.30
Anonymous Donor
$63.30
Anonymous Donor
$63.30
Anonymous
$63.30
Anonymous Donor
Your donation has been matched by an Anonymous Donor.
$63.30
Anonymous Donor .
$63.30
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$63.30
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$63.30
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$63.30
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$63.30
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$63.30
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$63.30
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$63.30
Anonymous Donor .
$63.30
Anonymous Donor .
$62.70
Cris Ponce
Sending you love and thoughts
$62.70
Anonymous Donor
$60
Melissa Mir
Sending love and light xx
$60
Alina Oussova
$60
Amine Jabbour
I didn’t get the chance to meet you Bella ! This is Amine, your dad’s second cousin and to whom I have a very special place in my heart. You are a gift from the sky and an angel that will be always looking over us. You have brought smiles to this family and we will cherish your memory forever.
$60
Carl H
In loving memory of Bella ❤️
$60
Anonymous Donor
$60
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$60
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$60
Anonymous Donor .
$52.75
Lauren
This is for you Bella. Never forgotten. ❤️
$52.75
Anonymous Donor .
$52
Anna Monahan
Lots of love Billie and Dany x x
$52
Anonymous Donor .
$50
Laia
Bella, you're so loved!
$50
Claire K
Thinking of you Billie and family x
$50
Anonymous Donor
$50
Anonymous Donor
$26.38
Amanda Reynolds-smith
My warmest love and sturdiest strength to all of you…
$26.38
Anonymous Donor
$26.38
Anonymous
$26.38
Anonymous Donor
Your donation has been matched by an Anonymous Donor.
