Big day for once little baby
Off to school: it has been a big trip to school for Katreena Poletti, who was born prematurely at Leongatha Memorial Hospital six years ago. She is pictured with parents Tracy and Joel and brother Braydon.
KATREENA Poletti was lost amongst a sea of 20 Prep students on Friday at Tarwin Valley Primary School at Meeniyan, but her journey to school was different to most.
The six-year-old was born more than three months premature, and Leongatha doctor Tim Linton held little hope for her survival.
She was born after 24 weeks and weighed just 737 grams.
“Tim Linton said she was the most premature baby who has survived,” Katreena’s mother Tracy said.
“Apparently it is pretty rare. Tim called it a miracle that such a premature baby survived in a small regional hospital, especially one that doesn’t specialise in natal care.”
Katreena’s first four months provided some scary times for Tracy and her husband Joel.
The Middle Tarwin couple sat on edge as they watched their daughter battle for survival.
“For the first couple of months, we sat and watched her stop breathing about 40 times a day,” Tracy said.
“She was hooked up to all these machines and every time she’d stop breathing they’d start with these alarms. It really was touch and go for the first few months.”
In a room jam packed full of premature babies, it was common knowledge when one lost its battle.
“There were so many premature babies and some weren’t as small as her,” Tracy said.
“I could go in there some days and say to the nurse ‘What happened to the baby that was next door?’ and she’d give me a look to say it didn’t make it, and those babies were a fair bit bigger than her.”
But six years on, Katreena fits in with the crowd easily.
She has not had too many troubles, aside from a rare chest infection every now and then.
Her proud parents had big smiles on their faces as she ran inside the classroom with the rest of the students.
“She was very excited. She can’t wait to get in there,” Tracy said.
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