Rocco Van Velzen was born premature, weighing less than two blocks of butter, and has spent his life so far in an incubator at the National Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Auckland Hospital.
But parents Shelley Jenkin and Shane Van Velzen, from the Auckland suburb of Sandringham, hope he will be allowed out of his protective shell as an early Christmas present.
Jenkin's pregnancy had been normal until she reached 29-weeks and was then diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a condition that can cause swelling, soaring blood pressure and, in extreme cases, organ failure.
She had to have an emergency caesarean for her and Rocco's safety, on November 10. He arrived into the world weighing just 830g.
But over the past five weeks the premature baby boy has come a long way. He is now breathing on his own, has almost doubled his weight and his parents hope to take him home in the New Year.
To cater to the demand for incubators at NICU, Mercury Energy customers have donated 10 of them, like the one Rocco is in, worth $250,000 in total.
Currently, incubators are shared between NICU, post-natal wards and nearby Starship Hospital.
Ten new incubators for NICU
Tiny Rocco Van Velzen and mum Shelley Jenken. Photo / Doug Sherring
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