THE Riverina community have banded together to assist a struggling family this week, launching a fundraiser for Griffith-born baby boy Leo James Andreatta.
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The kindhearted gesture has seen family and friends rally to support the newborn, who is suffering from a severe abnormality known as gastroschisis.
Leo came into the world at just 35 weeks on July 28, his mother Rachel Guymer being flown to Canberra for an emergency caesarean.
A scan at 12 weeks found that Leo had an abnormality which caused his intestines to grow outside the abdomen wall.
"When he was two days old he had a perforation where his bowel burst, which gave him a really bad infection," Ms Guymer said.
"Roger [his father] caught a glimpse of him, but I didn't get to see him for 24 hours.
"He couldn't come straight to myself or Roger, he was brought to be operated on immediately as his bowel was triple the size of him.
"The surgeons told us he may not survive the operation, and told us to say goodbye to him."
Two days later, Leo's condition had improved.
From birth he was given a central line in his neck, which supplied him with nutrients as he was unable to have milk.
Rachel and father Roger have been staying at the Ronald McDonald house in Canberra, taking each day as it comes.
"He's currently waiting on his fourth operation, which had to be pushed back due to complications," Ms Guymer said.
"So much is happening with this little boy, but he's so happy and content."
"For any other parents going through something similar, my advice is to be patient, be grateful and appreciate every day that you're with your little lovers.
"Sue Ellen, my mum, has been amazing. She's been looking after our 3 other children for two months straight, as well as working full-time at the hospital and setting up the GoFundMe page."
Leo is expected to remain hospitalised in Canberra for the next six months.
If you would like to donate to the fundraiser, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/leos-journey-with-gastroschisis.
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