Ever since his premature birth, little Judd Hargreaves has had an uncanny ability to ensure his major milestones occurred on important days of the year.
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For instance, he was born on his mother Jillian's 35th birthday. She would have preferred he waited another month or two, but after just 27 weeks in his mother's womb, Judd decided it was time to make an appearance.
That was November 22 last year. On New Year's Day, after weeks on a ventilation machine and a struggle that almost cost the tiny, one-kilogram child his life several times, the little battler was healthy enough to be moved from his humidicrib to an open cot.
"That was an amazing day," Jillian said. "I was finally able to touch and hold my baby. The last six weeks had been the most horrifying, horrible and emotional of my family's life."
As if the situation wasn't bad enough, Jillian was hundreds of kilometres from her home in Leeton, NSW, and her family - husband Peter and children Max (11), Reece (9), Bella and Finn (6, twins).
"You're not prepared for such an event financially or emotionally," she said. "When Pete and the kids came to visit they were offered a room in Ronald McDonald House Canberra and we discovered the support that would get us through.
"Ronald McDonald House offers you the power to remain positive by keeping your family together."
After his life-or-death struggle, Judd was finally allowed to go home in March.
As his health and outlook continues to improve, his family is also still recovering.
"In a few weeks we're staying at the Ronald McDonald Family Retreat in Batemans Bay," Jillian said.
"It's not a holiday but time to reconnect - seven days to be with the kids and to give them the attention they deserved but missed during the hospital stay.
"And Ronald McDonald Family Retreat is giving them that."
- story courtesy Better Homes & Gardens magazine