Keep the Berta's together in ICU

Hi all, Bree here, a close friend and colleague of Sarah's.

Throughout the last 3+ years I have watched Sarah and Josh go through trying to conceive, a miscarriage, twin pregnancy, pregnancy complications and a very difficult and premature birth.

A little of the twins story....

Toni and Poppy were born at 27weeks gestation. Sarah being a paramedic was well aware of some of the complications they might face, and Josh was very quickly brought up to speed.

Nothing however could have prepared them for the almost 8 months they spent in NICU at the Royal Womens Hospital and Royal Childrens Hospital.

Upon discharge home Poppy had a nasogastric tube for feeding, Toni had a nasojejunal tube for feeding and home oxygen.

The girls have had many appointments in Melbourne (100km from home), ranging from OT, physio, GP, Respiratory specialists, tube change overs, dieticians, radiology, the list goes on and on.

The reason for this go fund me...

When the twins were born I wanted to set up a gofundme for Josh and Sarah. They refused and were adamant they would make things work and that there were many people worse off then them. However, nothing could have prepared them for the magnitude of the girl's medical needs.

Living 100km from the hospital...

Petrol at $2 a litre means approx $40 round trip...

Parking fees...

Multiple ICU visits for Toni...

Josh has used all his sick leave due to prolonged hospital stays and needed to watch Poppy while the other parent is with Toni....

Sarah is on unpaid maternity leave from her job as a paramedic with Ambulance Victoria and is now unable to return to work with Toni back in ICU...

Not to mention the increased interest rates and cost of living...

So any of your donations will be going toward petrol, cost of food while at hospital, mortgage repayments for when they're both off work and any other medical needs the girls have.

Currently...

Toni is currently in RCH Intubated and sedated. They are unsure how long this visit will be and what exactly this will mean for their family, however, their wish is to remain together or as close to each other as possible. The cause of Toni's decreased respiratory function is not known and the Berta and Graham family are all living minute by minute.

They are the last people to ask for help and have finally very reluctantly agreed for me to make this gofundme. Sarah, as a paramedic has spent her adult life studying and working to help those in need. Living in Dales Creek and working in Gisborne she really does care for the community she lives in.

If you are in a position to donate $5 or anything at all for this beautiful and very deserving family that would be greatly appreciated.