Veil of Miracles

A baby girl is born by emergency caesarean at 28 weeks gestation. Amid a haze of desperation and despair her mother was thrown into a frightening, unfamiliar world.

Against all odds baby Chiara left hospital 101 days later after surviving a brain haemorrhage, meningitis, blood poisoning and lung disease. She had a grim prognosis.

Chiara’s ill health continued and by age four she had suffered multiple health problems including several rounds of neurosurgery due to Hydrocephalus, which was a consequence of her brain haemorrhage as a young baby.

At seven years of age Chiara mentioned a strange dream she had which set in motion an extraordinary, and at times inexplicable, paranormal journey entwined with Mary MacKillop.

Her mother now convinced miracles really do happen, offers her story as they have lived it, in anticipation of providing consolation and support to others in their time of need.

Acknowledgements    ix
Introduction    1
Part One
    Where to begin     5
    Enter the salesman    10
    The pregnancy    12
    Royal Adelaide Hospital    18
    An abominable act    21
    Queen Victoria Hospital Adelaide    24
    The whisper    30
    The birth    33
    Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit    37
    Only a miracle can save her    45
    Chiara’s rainbow    49
    First cuddle    52
    Neurosurgery trauma begins    57
    All babies are tiny     63
    Two hospitals unite    66
    Home at last    77
    
Part Two
    A mother’s intuition    83
    Expect the unexpected    85
    A father’s denial    92
    Intermittent shunt blockages    95
    One step forward two steps back    105
    Special kisses    109
    Complications continue    113
    My consolation    122
    Free wheel…ing    124
    Jason    127
    The nightmare continues    130
    Chiara starts school    140
    One shunt or two    143
    A special Christmas service    148
    Wishes come true    151
    History repeats itself    164
Part Three
    Mary MacKillop    173
    The beatification    178
    The flower girl    187
    Penola    190
    Visions continue    196
    From celebrations to commiserations    198
    Mary MacKillop’s second miracle    203
    The Novena    205
    Our world explodes    209
    Changing doctors and direction    213
    Flinders Medical Centre Adelaide    216
    Life goes on    223
    Uncanny coincidences    226
    Sudden accidents change lives    230
    Intuition ignored    232
    Planning a future    238
    Fighting for improvements    241
    Euthanasia    246
    Epilogue: An extraordinary journey    248
    Thank you    253
    Glossary    258