Little Oliver Jack Parkinson did not make it to this year’s Mercy Health Foundation Ball but his precious five-month journey is just one example of why the annual fundraising event is so critically important.
Born to mum Nicole Parkinson and father Brad, ‘Ollie’ as he’s now affectionately known, arrived nine weeks premature. Believing time was on her side, Nicole was out shopping when she realised her baby was coming, prompting an urgent rush to Werribee Mercy Hospital.
Baby Oliver is pictured with mum, Nicole, and sister, Ruby.
Upon arrival, it was decided that Nicole should be transferred to Mercy Hospital for Women at Heidelberg where Ollie arrived on 2 February. Ollie’s battle for life was just beginning.
He required five days in Mercy Hospital for Women’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). From there it was a move to the hospital’s Special Care Nursery before a return trip to Werribee Mercy Hospital Special Care Nursery, where Ollie spent a further two weeks.
According to Nicole it was heartbreaking to leave her little man every night, “but I knew he was in the hands of wonderfully skilled, caring practitioners. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank them all,” she said.
The Parkinson family was supported by Mercy Perinatal, a three-pillar centre of excellence in clinical care, education and research. Mercy Perinatal is a collaborative between Mercy Hospital for Women and the University of Melbourne and was the beneficiary of last month’s Mercy Health Foundation Ball.
I knew he was in the hands of wonderfully skilled, caring practitioners…
Mercy Health Group Chief Executive Officer Adjunct Professor Stephen Cornelissen says the Ball was an opportunity to acknowledge the important partnerships that enable Mercy Health, through Mercy Perinatal, to support families like the Parkinsons and to bring more mothers and babies safely home.
“The life-changing work of Mercy Perinatal is only possible as a result of strong corporate partnerships and donors, who were thrilled to hear from the Mercy Perinatal research team at the Ball,” Stephen says.
Mercy Perinatal co-founders and co-directors professors Stephen Tong and Sue Walker AO addressed 400 guests at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne.
L-R Associate Professor Roxanne Hastie, Dr Natalie Hannan, Professor Sue Walker AO, Professor Stephen Tong, Associate Professor Tu’uhevaha Kaitu’u-Lino and Dr Fiona Brownfoot from the Mercy Perinatal team.
Sue says answers are not found in the silos of hospital wards and corridors, or in scientific laboratories.
“The answers are found in the great minds and big hearts of those who work in clinical care, teaching and research,” Sue explains.
“Our Mercy Perinatal team is advancing new treatments which could help countless women avoid dangerous antenatal conditions, including ectopic pregnancy, and transforming the way these pregnancies are managed around the world.”
The team is also working on new treatments to prevent and treat preeclampsia, a pregnancy condition that claims the lives of more than half a million babies and tens of thousands of mothers every year.
The Ball’s popular Master of Ceremonies was TV presenter and producer Michael Pope, one of the country’s leading event MCs, while master magician and illusionist Matt Hollywood had guests gasping and cheering all at the same time.
Master of Ceremonies Michael Pope
Master magician and illusionist Matt Hollywood
The White Tree Band had everyone on their feet dancing
The theme of the night was 300 days: Keeping little hearts beating and more than $150,000 was raised. Guests were reminded that those first nine months are arguably the most important months of our entire lives, though perhaps the best reminder is the healthy, smiling face of beautiful baby Ollie.
Last reviewed July 5, 2019.