When Rachael Casella’s daughter Mackenzie was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at 10 weeks old, she and her husband began a campaign to spare other families from the nightmare they endured
I got pregnant two months after the wedding, but sadly I had a miscarriage at six weeks. We named the baby Hope because, as devastated as we were, we knew that we’d passed the first hurdle: we could get pregnant. Mackenzie was conceived the very next month.
It was a dream pregnancy. I loved carrying Mackenzie and couldn’t wait to meet her. I made sure that I did my bit to give her the best start possible, following the doctors’ advice to the letter. We took all the tests available and paid extra for the “Harmony test” (also known as Non-invasive Prenatal Testing – it assesses blood from the mother to look at the baby’s DNA), which shows more conclusively if there are any chromosomal abnormalities. So we thought we were prepared for anything.
At 39 weeks I noticed that Mackenzie wasn’t moving around as much as normal, so just to be safe, I was induced. It was a difficult labour, but on March 11, 2017, Mackenzie arrived via emergency C-section. Jonny took photos as Mackenzie was being born. She was wrapped up and whisked away for standard checks. And then she was brought to me and placed across my chest. I looked at her beautiful little face and fell in love. She was utterly perfect. Jonny took eight weeks off work and the three of us took our time getting to know each other. We were in a little bubble, content and happy.
Denne historien er fra August 2018-utgaven av Marie Claire Australia.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 2018-utgaven av Marie Claire Australia.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
SHANNEN DOHERTY
The rebellious actor died in July after a nine-year battle with cancer. Zara Wong looks back at the legacy of a woman who always lived on her own terms
IN THE WILDS OF ALASKA
Nature served up a spectacular array of delights, while cruising the majestic waters of the far north.
Back to EARTH
In its earliest days, the farm bred draught horses for export. Now Tasmania's 1840 cottage Leighton House has been restored as a glorious getaway
ODE to LIGHT
Created by master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian in 2011, Elie Saab's Le Parfum has since gained a cult following and become an industry icon. Here, Sally Hunwick uncovers the origins of the stunning chypre floral scent
JEN ATKIN
The Ouai beauty guru is regularly called on by the Kardashians and a host of other A-listers. Here, she talks about hair, her beauty cupboard and how she keeps up her energy levels
A NEW DIRECTION
When she was 16, Jordan Lambropoulos told her surgeon she'd rather die than wake up with a colostomy bag. Today - 10 years, countless operations and 14,000 Instagram followers later - she's proof that a colostomy bag is not the end. In fact, it can be the beginning of a whole new life
LADY LUCK
Rosalía takes her accessories as seriously as she takes her art. The Spanish musician spent three years working on her much-lauded album Motomami, finessing the details and perfecting the finishing touches. And when it comes to her outfits, she's no less specific
Wait... superhero movies are cool now?
Who had Emma Corrin and Juno Temple as supervillians on their 2024 bingo card?
CURTAIN CALLING
Brisbane-born star Vidya Makan steps into the shoes of America's founding mother in the long-awaited return of Hamilton
LEIGH-ANNE
The English singer on colourism, freedom and reuniting Little Mix