Why We Do This

Our commitment to House for Life has now seen over $6.5 million be donated to Mater Little Miracles, from the sale of nine homes over the past seventeen years!

There is nothing more heartbreaking than hearing that a baby needs specialist care in hospital, and there’s nothing more uplifting than knowing that at Plantation Homes, we have made a difference to the lives of sick and premature babies and their families.

We are proud that funds raised over the years have contributed to purchasing vital pieces of equipment to assist in the exceptional care provided to babies while they are in Mater’s NCCU.

Medical research is the key to improving the health of us all, including the smallest of patients. Proceeds from the House for Life project have also greatly assisted Mater researchers to continue important research projects to improve the health outcomes of mothers and their babies. We look forward to continuing this commitment in the future.

2025 House For Life Ambassadors

Hunter’s story – another Mater Little Miracle

Ellie’s pregnancy with her first baby, Hunter, was smooth and uneventful, with only minor bouts of fatigue along the way. But everything changed the night before Hunter’s early arrival when Ellie began experiencing what she believed were harmless Braxton Hicks contractions.

Trusting her instincts, Ellie and her husband Steve decided to visit Mater Mothers’ Hospital, Brisbane, a decision that would soon lead them into an emotional and challenging journey, testing their strength and deepening their appreciation for the exceptional care they were about to receive.

An early arrival

Ellie had just attended her 34-week appointment when she started to experience mild cramping.

“Because it was so early, I just thought it was Braxton Hicks, didn’t think anything of it,” Ellie says.

But as the cramps intensified, she decided to go to the hospital for reassurance.

Upon arrival at Mater Mothers’ Hospital, the medical team quickly realised that Ellie was in premature labour. Despite efforts to delay the birth, Hunter was born at 2:20am, weighing 2.5 kilos, after a swift labour.

Hunter was born en caul, meaning he was still inside an intact amniotic sac. While this occurrence is rare, happening in only about one in 80,000 births, it posed no complications for Hunter.

The fight for strength in the Neonatal Critical Care Unit

The initial moments after Hunter’s birth were bittersweet. Ellie, despite her medical background, had hoped for immediate skin-to-skin contact, but Hunter’s premature status meant that caution was necessary.

“I held him for probably 10 or 15 minutes until the midwife took Hunter to the Mater Mothers’ Neonatal Critical Care Unit (NCCU).” Ellie says.

Hunter’s breathing had begun to deteriorate, prompting the medical team to place him on a CPAP machine, a critical step in supporting his early, fragile breaths. Over the next three days, in NCCU, Hunter was also placed in a humidicrib and fed through a nasogastric tube (NG tube) because he couldn’t feed on his own.

“He was also on a glucose drip and later needed a Bili Blanket to treat his jaundice.” Ellie said.

For Steve and Ellie, their whirlwind of emotions was also coupled with knowing Hunter was in the best place possible for his health.. Steve, who initially believed that everything would be fine, found himself grappling with the reality of Hunter’s condition. “Once he was born and they said that his breathing was deteriorating, that’s when I started to get worried and scared.” he says.

 “I struggled with seeing him being fed through a tube. It didn’t feel right, but it was the only way.”

Ellie and Steve found themselves in a new routine, with Ellie spending her days at the hospital, while Steve balanced work and evening visits to the NCCU. The wins, like moving Hunter from CPAP to high flow, were celebrated.

“Just those milestones felt amazing, like okay, we’re progressing, though setbacks, such as needing to return to CPAP, were challenging.” Steve says.

As Hunter’s condition improved, the focus shifted to feeding independently, the final hurdle before he could go home. Ellie recalls the emotional moments when Hunter struggled to latch.

“I would just feed him at any opportunity I could and was determined to help Hunter reach this crucial milestone.”

When the time finally came to bring Hunter home, both Ellie and Steve felt a mix of apprehension and readiness.

“The time spent in the NCCU had set us up so much better because of the support we got in there.  The knowledge and care they received during those weeks prepared them for the transition to home life with our son.”

Ellie says, “Our experience could have been perceived as such a traumatic experience, but we don't view it like that. It was overwhelming, but we were so well looked after. We only had a positive experience at Mater Mothers’ Hospital.”

Hunter’s early start in life also deepened Steve’s connection to House for Life, a project he had been involved with since before Hunter’s birth, and is now Construction Manager for the upcoming build.

“When Hunter was born and being in NCCU, I really got to see what this project contributes to and the impact that it has. The project, which supports Mater Little Miracles, is more than just a job for me, it became a deeply personal mission to give back to the place that had cared for my son so well.” Steve says.

Thriving against the odds

Today, Hunter is a vibrant, thoughtful six-year-old, showing no signs of his premature birth. His parents describe him as wise beyond his years, sensitive, and smart.

“He really is an old man.  From excelling in school to participating in sports, including footy and coming in third at cross country, Hunter’s progress is a testament to the resilience he showed from the very beginning.” Ellie says.

The journey through Hunter’s early days was filled with challenges, but also with moments of gratitude for the care provided by Mater Mothers’ Hospital.

“We felt safe in there. For me, it was fantastic from a holistic nursing perspective, the care that they provided was so personable.” Ellie says.

Steve says, “The midwives and nurses taught me so much in there and that’s why we took Hunter back to visit, because they just kind of felt like our family.”

Gallery

2000x1080px House for Life (1)
2000x1080px House for Life (2)
2000x1080px House for Life (3)
2000x1080px House for Life (4)
2000x1080px House for Life (5)