Samala Scomazzon

Premmie Marathon Challenge 2025

My Activity Tracking

4
kms

My target 100 kms

Reuben's story

On Tuesday, September 17th, at 2:52 pm, Reuben was born at 30 weeks and 6 days. He weighed 1.44 kg, was 38.8cm long, but luckily had an Apgar score of 6, which was only slightly out of normal.  I had been in the hospital at The Royal Women's Hospital for 3 days already due to severe pre-eclampsia. I was thankfully able to get both steroid injections in preparation for Reuben's arrival. These injections were the first thing that allowed Reuben to be as healthy as he is, as they helped protect his vulnerable lungs. He was immediately put on a CPAP and taken to the NICU.
Reuben remained on the CPAP machine until he was 3 days old, and from there, he was on high-flow oxygen. At 5 days old, he was able to tolerate 11mls of breastmilk through his NG tube every 6 hours; he was also on an infusion during this time to help provide nutrients. At 8 days old, he was strong enough to have the breathing tubes removed, and he was able to breathe fully independently. At 10 days old, his feeds were upped to 21mls every 2 hours, and he was downgraded from NICU to special care. We were on the way to coming home. At 12 days old his feeds were upped again to 23mls every 2 hours, and he gained 2 grams. We were transferred to the Special Care Nursery at Barwon Health from the Royal Women's. 
We were ecstatic; however, the celebration was short-lived, as early the following morning, we received a phone call. Reuben had become incredibly unwell, seemingly overnight, and they were unsure of the cause. When we arrived at the hospital, he was gray, swollen, and was back on the CPAP machine. In the following days, Reuben received many tests, one of which was a lumbar puncture (to determine if he had meningitis), and a PIC/long line IV was placed in his leg to provide broad-spectrum antibiotics. Ultimately, it was found he had somehow contracted Uro-Sepsis, and tested positive for a rare bug. At 16 days old, Reuben was able to taste milk for the very first time. During this time, his feeds had been completely stripped back, and at 20 days old, his feeds were able to be slowly increased again.
Finally, on the 8th of October, he was able to be transferred back to Geelong. 
At 23 days old, Reuben was able to wear clothes for the very first time, a 00000 bonds onesie enveloped him. At this stage, he was also finally transferred from an enclosed humidicrib to an open, heated crib. 
One day shy of a month old, he was able to be placed in a normal cot, like other babies when they are first born, he also weighed in at 2kgs that day.
At 31 days old, Reuben had his first bath - a truly magical experience that he adored. At 33 days old, he finally had his NG tube removed. And finally, on the 24th of October at 37 days old, we were able to bring our beautiful boy home.

This journey has been far from easy, but we have never been so grateful in our entire lives. Reuben is the most amazing person we have ever met; to be his parents is an absolute honour. 
Now, at just shy of 10 months old, he is the happiest boy you'd ever meet, and we are entirely infatuated with him.

Reuben was able to be given the best chance at life as a result of the amazing facilities and care available through the Royal Women's Hospital and Barwon Health. This is why I am doing Running for Prems - to give other babies and families their best chance at thriving. 

If you read this all the way through, I love you.
Thank you so much for the amazing support we have already received.

Much love 
- Sam <3

This November I’m taking on the Premmie Marathon Challenge

In September of 2024, our son Reuben was born at 30 weeks and weighed just 1.4kgs.  He spent over a month in hospital, and required additional support for some time. Now he  is nearly 12 months old, over 10 kilos, and the happiest little boy. 

We are forever grateful for doctors, nurses, volunteers, hospitals and lifesaving medical supports that helped us during this time. 

I’ll be clocking up my kms in the Premmie Marathon Challenge to raise funds for life-saving neonatal equipment that will give critically ill and premature babies a better chance of survival.

I'd love your support - if you can, please make a generous tax-deductible donation here.

Thank you for your support.
Your donation will help keep me motivated as I complete my challenge through November, knowing that each km I complete is helping save the lives of sick and premature babies.

Fancy joining me? You can sign up for the Premmie Marathon Challenge too! Simply choose your challenge distance and start clocking your kms for premmie babies.

My Achievements

Thank you to my Sponsors

$197.29

Anonymous

Xxx

$64.67

Natalie Wilsdon

I love you queen

$64.67

Margaret Lees

$64.67

Graunty Shelley. ??

For my little Mate… ❤️❤️❤️

$64.67

Noelle Alexander

xxxx

$54.12

Anonymous

$54.12

Fabio Scomazzon

I love you all so much. Beautiful couple. Amazing parents and Reuben is a blessing to our family.

$45.65

John Mannix

Well done. Great cause!

$38.33

Melissa Thomas

$22.58

Georgia Mckinnon

$11.65

Anonymous

Amazing effort, excellent cause. Good luck!