After months of uncertainty, baby Jazmin Westergreen is a huge step closer to home, after she was transferred to the Launceston General Hospital on Friday.
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Jazmin was born via emergency caesarean at 25 weeks’ gestation on January 2.
She was believed to be Tasmania’s tiniest single birth baby, but her parents had been told to prepare for the worst before her birth.
Jazmin’s parents, Sharni Watters of Hadspen and Sam Westergreen of George Town, have been on a stressful and unpredictable journey.
Miss Watters, 23, said she was extremely relieved to be so much closer to home, as were Jazmin’s family and friends.
The family stayed in Hobart and travelled to Melbourne due to Jazmin’s ongoing medical battle.
"It's nice to be in your own bed and know she's not too far away,” Miss Watters said.
Since her birth, Jazmin has had multiple infections.
Doctors discovered two hernias impacting her ovaries.
She also had to travel to Melbourne to have a growth removed from her throat.
Jazmin’s weight has reached 2.93 kilograms, and despite requiring a “low-flow” stream of oxygen, she is able to sleep in an open-air cot.
"At this stage we're not entirely sure how long she'll be here for,” Miss Watters said.
“Really, the only thing she's needing at the moment is establishing her feeding because she does have a little bit of trouble still, and getting her off the oxygen," she said.
Miss Watters said Jazmin is a hungry, affectionate baby, who loves to interact with her family.
She is displaying confidence, and loves befriending strangers.
As she grows stronger, Jazmin’s unique personality has started to emerge.
"She knows what she wants...basically, if you don't do things her way it's the end of the world and she'll let you know about it," Miss Watters laughed.
"She's usually only awake when she needs a feed or needs to be changed...otherwise she sleeps a lot of the time,” she said.
“She does wake up occasionally for a play."
Jazmin celebrated her six-week corrected birthday on Saturday, or 21 weeks since her birth.
Miss Watters said although it has been a tumultuous journey, she couldn’t be more proud of Jazmin’s fighting spirit and resilience.
"Above everything, it's just been really stressful and hard not being able to take her home but we're getting there slowly,” Miss Watters said.
“The stress is slowly lifting as we get closer and closer to home."
Donations can be made at: https://www.gofundme.com/6meagzdt
