Brendan Martens

Audrey and Hanne's Ron Mac fund raiser

Hanne Middleton was born on the 16th of January 2024 and was discovered to have had a small brain bleed likely caused during birth and spent the first few weeks of her life in the Canberra NICU and Special Care wards. Whilst Hanne was still in the NICU ward her 3.5-year-old sister Audrey fell ill and, on 27th of January was diagnosed with kidney cancer. 

Audrey and (dad) Adrian were admitted to the Canberra children's Hospital on the ground floor whilst Hanne and (mum) Alison were still in the NICU ward level 3 of the same Hospital.

8 days later Audrey and Adrian were transferred 3 hours away to Randwick children's hospital in Sydney for surgery to remove the kidney and tumour. Once Audrey recovered a week later, she and Adrian moved into Randwick’s Ronald McDonald House so she could start chemo and will continue to stay until Audrey has recovered, hopefully in June 2024.

Back in Canberra, Hanne had recovered from the initial bleed on the brain, but still required some oxygen assistance especially while asleep to determine why Hanne still needed oxygen assistance, she and Alison were then also transferred to Randwick children’s hospital on the 27th of February for further sleep studies.

On the 20th of March Hanne was diagnosed with a neurological disorder called Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome which means she will require ongoing breathing assistance while sleeping.

As you can imagine this was very difficult time for the Middleton family, Adrian and Audrey were staying in Ronald McDonald House to be able to attend weekly treatments in Randwick children’s hospital whilst Alison and Hanne were staying in the ward for further investigation by multiple specialists.

Without the ongoing support and accommodation provided to the family we would be finding this situation far more difficult both mentally and financially. We were also able to make use of the amazing Ronald McDonald Family Lounge Rooms which provided a welcoming space for us to be together as a family away from the ward. 

The Middleton family have set up this page to raise awareness, and to give back to Ronald McDonald House for all they do. All funds raised by this page go directly to Ronald McDonald house to assist other families in need of care, with the Middleton family already having contributed to this great cause.