When little Mason from Ballajura was born at Joondalup Private Hospital last September, everything seemed normal at first.

However, he soon began vomiting shortly after feeds. Within hours, Mason’s health declined sharply as he vomited brown fluid and rapidly lost weight, dropping from 2.9kg to 2.5kg in just two days.

An X-ray quickly revealed a life-threatening defect in his oesophagus that required emergency surgery to repair.

He was diagnosed with a tracheoesophageal fistula, meaning his oesophagus (food pipe) wasn’t connected to his stomach and milk had nowhere to go.

Mason was quickly transferred to Perth Children’s Hospital by the Newborn Emergency Transport Service and underwent emergency surgery the same day to repair his oesophagus.

Thanks to the care Mason received at Perth

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