Cabrini couple’s early Christmas delivery
16/12/2025
Told they were unlikely to ever have children of their own, Cabrini staff members April and James Gindang couldn’t hide their surprise when they learned they were pregnant and due to give birth to a little Christmas Day miracle.
But the surprises didn’t end there. April, a nurse on 2 North, and James, who works on Theatre Reception at Cabrini Malvern, found themselves in theatre and then the Special Care Nursery when baby Euan made a surprise arrival five weeks ahead of his Christmas due date.
“We were so excited,” April said. “We’d tried for nine years to get pregnant, but I have polycystic ovarian syndrome and hyperthyroidism, so it was very difficult. Then we got pregnant but had an ectopic pregnancy. We had terrible sadness, but it also gave us hope that we might be able to have a baby one day.
“And then we found out we were pregnant in April. I know some kids aren’t that happy to have their birthday on Christmas Day, but I would’ve preferred that to having him in the 35th week of pregnancy.”
After a rocky few weeks, when Euan had a low platelet count, the couple’s Special Care Nursery team delivered a wonderful present this week, telling the family that baby Euan would be home for Christmas.
“After 28 days in the Nursery, we’re very excited to go home,” James said. “Even more special is that it’s my birthday the day we leave.”
Any time in the Special Care Nursery can be a difficult time for families, but even more so at Christmas, Clinical Manager of SCN Narelle Wiseman said.
“April and James have been coming in for 28 days, multiple times a day,” Narelle said. “It’s such a hard slog, and exhausting, especially at Christmas time, when families tend to have multiple commitments on. And the anxiety that comes with having a baby in SCN can overshadow festivities, too.
“So, we try to do what we can to make Christmas for families in our Nursery as special as possible, doing things like decorating and sharing special Christmas cards and gifts with our families. But the best gift is being able to send families home.”