This Father’s Day is set to be an unforgettable milestone for Queensland country music star Trent Richardson, as he finally gets the chance to celebrate the day at home – rather than in a neonatal critical care unit.
Last year, the former Australian Idol finalist along with his partner Gabrielle Nielsen, welcomed their first baby, Archie, into the world on 24 August.
But what was meant to be a time of pure joy, quickly turned into any parent’s worst nightmare with their baby needing treatment in neonatal intensive care for two-and-a-half months.
“Gab went into labour and was rushed in for an emergency C-section, but up until that point everything was showing up fine during the whole pregnancy,” Mr Richardson said.
“We got the little fella out and within moments he became lethargic, so the doctors took his bloods and found he had a high level of ammonia which can lead to a coma and even death, so we were on a flight straight from Rockhampton to Brisbane.”
Both Archie and Mr Richardson were immediately transferred to Mater Mothers’ Hospital in South Brisbane.
Trent in the NCCU with Archie and, right, with partner Gabrielle.
“They got me and Archie down there and then Gab was flown down the next day, so it was only a day apart, but, jeez, it was a tough time,” Mr Richardson said.
“When we got to Mater Mothers’ they discovered the blood test at the previous hospital had shown a false positive for ammonia levels. At the time we thought we’d be able to take Archie home, but the doctors wanted to run more tests.”
After 10 days of testing, Mater doctors discovered little Archie had a rare condition affecting one in 10,000 to one in 50,000 babies called septo-optic dysplasia (SOD), also known as de Morsier syndrome.
Mater Senior Staff Specialist in Neonatology Associate Professor Luke Jardine said SOD was a rare, lifelong congenital disorder that affects early brain development.
“Septo-optic dysplasia is diagnosed when a child has at least two of three characteristic features – underdevelopment of the optic nerves, abnormalities of the midline structures of the brain, and abnormal function of the pituitary gland, which controls the production of several important hormones,” Associate Professor Jardine said.
Little Archie has all three features of the condition – meaning he has impaired vision, and requires an array of hormone replacement therapies, including medication that mimics natural hormones to reduce urine production, and a growth injection daily.
Only around 30 per cent of people with SOD have all three of its conditions.
“Poor Archie's got the trifecta,” Mr Richardson said.
“Without his medication he would not be able to function. Mum's busy at home every day, she’s full-time nurse with the little fella. But Gab hasn't missed a beat. We just want to give him every chance and make sure he has his medication.”
But despite his condition, little Archie has hit all his milestones, smiling and clapping every chance he gets.
“He's the most active and happy little kid, just like any other,” Mr Richardson said.
“It was a tough watch seeing your child in intensive care – it was cannulas and cords and any parent in there knows what it's like to watch your little one struggling. But the Mater staff were just amazing. It takes a pure heart to work in those places.”
The country singer and former Gold Coast Show Ambassador has since written a song, ‘Promise You Now’ dedicated to little Archie, and plans to give five per cent of streaming profits back to Mater Mothers’ Hospital.
“They saved his life,” he said.
“That’s what it comes down to –– if he didn't go there and got what he needed, he wouldn't be here. It's the least I can do after they saved our boy. All I wanted for this Father's Day was to be all together, and now we get that.”
The young family are now 23 weeks pregnant with their second son, due Christmas Eve.
