Sandy and Shawn were just 22 when she fell pregnant with their first baby.
But the Melbourne couple soon came around to the idea of being parents, and Sandy adjusted to life with a baby growing inside her. It wasn't hard, though. She doesn't smoke or drink.
On January 29th 2010, baby Huntah was born via emergency c-section. Labour had been induced and Sandy went through 21 hours of labour without pain relief of any kind.
Given the difficult delivery, Sandy was pleasantly surprised when Huntah appeared to be perfectly healthy. However, it was whilst Sandy and Huntah were in recovery that she heard him scream, rather than cry.
That was her first indication that things weren't okay. Pretty soon it became clear that the child wasn't feeding normally at all.
"His sucking wasn't consistent and he was being fed, mostly orally, via syringe," Sandy told Kidspot. "His eyes were full of gunk and he was unable to regulate his temperature."
On day two, doctors arrived and took him away for a check-up. Before long, worried doctors decided to bring little Huntah to the Royal Children's Hospital. in Melbourne city.
After hours of tests and scans, Sandy and Shawn had their last cuddle with their boy for almost a week.
And then, a specialist doctor broke the news to them: little Hunter had suffered a stroke...in utero!
"I had to have the doctor repeat that sentence as I was unsure I had heard correctly," said Sandy. "I was shocked. How could I have not known?"
Doctors swiftly began questioning Sandy about her lifestyle, but she assured them she didn't smoke, drink or do drugs during her pregnancy, and that there was no history of stroke in her family. "I was in shock for 30 seconds before I burst into tears," Sandy said.
Huntah was fully sedated for four days and had a breathing tube in for three of those days. His cord was removed so they could put monitors in through his belly button and he was on anti-seizure medication.
"At this point, we still didn't know if we would be taking our Huntah home or if we were going to lose him."
Eventually, Sandy and Shawn learned that Huntah's stroke had been caused by a clot. For that reason, happily, his odds were good.
When they were finally able to hold their boy again, it was an emotional day for the proud and relieved parents.
Fourteen days after his birth, they were able to bring their newborn home.
"Finally, we were able to start our lives together," she said.
But Huntah's struggles weren't over.
The child turned out to be allergic to the seizure medication he'd been put on, and he had to be weaned onto a new medication. This involved another five days spent in hospital.
"Soon, we saw the first of Huntah's effects from his stroke since he was discharged from hospital - his deliberate movements were beginning and his right arm was weak and being neglected."
"We were told Huntah would probably never crawl and may not walk until he was two or three. He started rolling everywhere at about 12 months which became his mode of mobility for months."
Despite his struggles, Huntah has gone on to make remarkable progress.
When he was 20 months, Huntah got his first AFO (ankle-foot orthosis or brave) fo rhis right foot, adn started walking three days later - and running the very next day!
He was also given a soft hand split for his right hand "to use for small periods of time during play", and a night splint to stretch his hand at night. He also has sight issues as a result of the stroke.
So far, his biggest sisues are the use of his right hand and arm. He has increased tone as well as weakness in his right upper limb which causes him to neglect it.
"We are working on getting him to use it for support and everyday use as an aid."
His lower limb has also increased in tone, so he has started walking on his toes slightly, despite having an AFO.
He has scheduled Botox injections to relax the tone in his hand every six months. He also undergoes intense therapy with an occupational therapist during home visits.
Huntah is now four-and-a-half, and is thriving. He's also a big brother to one-and-a-half-year-old Axton.
While things are going smoothly now, Sandy admits that she and Shawn wouldn't have coped without each other.
"Whilst we are nervous wrecks every time something goes wrong or an appointment is coming up, we are there for each other and if one of us is nervous or down, we know the other is strong enough to pull us through, or take over," Sandy said.
Right now, Huntah has some anxiety issues that have arrisen because of some of the treatments he has had to endure in hospital, but he's coming along well overall.
"We couldn't be prouder of his efforts to do what every other child his age does," she said.
"Huntah is stubborn and determined but most of all, he is amazing and we are proud and so in love! Huntah’s future looks bright. He will always have his limitations but he is one determined little boy."
"We see him as a normal four year old who needs a little help here and there. We look forward to the day he can dress and feed himself fully, to the day he has his first girlfriend and to the day we can congratulate him on becoming a dad."
"His limitations are only a minute part of his life and he is a happy and healthy little man."
What an incredible little boy!
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