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  • 2 years ago
Having a baby is one of the happiest times in people's lives, but one Canberra couple's joy turned to heartbreak, when their prematurely-born son died suddenly from a horrific disease.

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00:00 Sophie and Nathan Streeter lost their baby boy Charlie earlier this year.
00:06 He loved his cuddles, that was always his favourite part of the day.
00:09 But they say he still sparkles above them with a star named in his honour.
00:13 It just helps us feel like he's there I guess and he's always watching, always there in the sky, sparkly, shining brightly.
00:21 I think cute and fierce sums it up. Little fighter.
00:24 Born at 26 weeks, Charlie was doing well until he developed necrotising enterocolitis or NEC.
00:31 He had a really tough time but he fought the whole way.
00:36 All of a sudden it was no light at the end of the tunnel.
00:41 Hudson Institute researchers say NEC is a common risk for premature or low birth weight babies.
00:47 Its severe form is often deadly.
00:50 The blood is inflamed first and then it dies off and when it dies off it requires surgery
00:55 and those babies that do require surgery, most of them, like 50% unfortunately, pass away.
01:01 Our smallest babies are about the size of a can of coke.
01:05 So getting specimens from these babies and doing something, getting meaningful information out of these tiny, tiny specimens is difficult.
01:15 Researchers are investigating whether a drug already used in some adults with rheumatoid arthritis
01:20 could help block dangerous inflammation in premature babies.
01:24 Researchers say it won't be long before they're able to launch a much larger clinical trial
01:29 involving up to 750 babies in 10 hospitals worldwide
01:34 and if it's successful, a treatment for the disease could be available within five years.
01:40 It's just a bit of hope.
01:42 Hudson are now looking forward to meeting Charlie's little sister.
01:46 This little girl, she's on her way next year in April so Charlie's making sure everything goes well.
01:53 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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