Early Christmas

By Nicole Williams
IT WILL be a very special Christmas in one Lyndhurst household this December when seven-week-old Leon takes his first trip home.
First-time mother Sandra Gantiva’s ‘special little Christmas present’ arrived a little bit early this year when she went into premature labour in October at 28 weeks.
Born on 10 October, little Leon spent his first month at Monash Medical Centre before moving to Dandenong Hospital.
In two weeks’ time, Mrs Gantiva and her husband Alfredo will be able to take him home, just in time for Christmas.
“It will be a very special time because he wasn’t due until after Christmas,” she said.
“We’re both just really happy he’s coming home for Christmas.”
Mrs Gantiva said even though he was a little bit early, he will still be a spoilt little boy on Christmas morning.
“We have lots of little My First Christmas things for him.”
Born at 28 weeks and weighing only 1374 grams, Leon had premature lungs and has now learnt to breathe on his own.
He also had suspected meningitis and a bilateral kidney issue.
“We were sort of stressed and scared at the start to have him so young,” Mrs Gantiva said, who had spent every day with Leon in hospital.
“It’s been a hard stretch but as long as he’s healthy.”
Leon’s unexpected arrival threw more than just Christmas plans into disarray.
“He was born just before his dad’s 30th birthday and we had big plans but he came early.”
Instead, Mr Gantiva got an even better birthday present and spent the days around his birthday giving Leon ‘kangaroo cuddles’ to bond with his new son.
Mrs Gantiva thanked the Monash Medical Centre, Dandenong Hospital, staff and Ronald McDonald Housewho had made the difficult time much easier.