Premie-born Eddie now running to help others like him
When he was born at just 34-weeks’ gestation, Eddie Bettinzoli could not even breath for himself. But on March 5, the now fighting-fit 8-year-old is tackling the Orange Running Festival 5-kilometre race, all to raise money to help kids like him.
For parents Mark and Rach Bettinzoli, having what had been a normal pregnancy suddenly escalated to an emergency premature birth was a terrifying ordeal.
“Rach was in hospital, and I got a phone call that morning at 6:30 to rush to there,” Mark said, “and they immediately performed an emergency caesarean section at 34-weeks’ gestation where they found that Rach’s placenta had ruptured.”
As is typical with babies of this gestation, baby Eddie’s lungs were not fully developed so he was mechanically ventilated and airlifted from Orange to Liverpool Hospital where he received specialist care.
“Rach was not able to travel, so our new family was separated for the first couple of days which was tough,” Mark said.
“I was able to hold Eddie occasionally and I know it was hard for Rach to not be there.”
When Eddie was well enough, the Special Care Nursery team at Orange Base Hospital arranged for him to be brought back to Orange where he met mum for the first time.
Eight years later, Eddie and his family are keen to make a difference in the lives others in the same situation and will be lacing up their running shoes to fundraise for the charity Running for Premature Babies at the Orange Running Festival, March 4–5.
Eddie and Mark are taking on the 5-kilometre race, while Eddie’s sister Addison and Rach will be running the Community Mile. Mark will also be running in the half marathon.
Mark and Eddie’s efforts to raise funds for premature babies have touched the hearts of many in their community. They hope to inspire others to make a difference and join them in helping raise funds for lifesaving neonatal equipment, giving premature babies born here in Orange a better chance of survival.
Running for Premature Babies Foundation was founded by Sophie Smith OAM in after she and her late husband Ash lost their prematurely born triplets to complications following their birth in 2006. The charity has since raised over $5 million, providing over 100 pieces of life-saving neonatal equipment to hospitals in need all over Australia, and directly benefiting thousands of sick and premature babies.
“It gives me great comfort knowing that my little triplets’ legacy is helping give so many other babies a better chance of survival. I’m so grateful to Mark, Eddie, and their family and to the thousands of people who are lacing up their joggers to ensure we can continue to make a difference to neonatal care in Australia,” Ms Smith said.
If you’d like to support Mark and Eddie on their running and fundraising journey for Running for Premature Babies, follow the link to his fundraising page:
https://www.runningforprematurebabies.com/fundraisers/markbettinzoli
To learn more about Running for Premature Babies and fundraise for lifesaving neonatal equipment you can visit www.runningforprematurebabies.com