Our Journey: Why I’m Walking for Red Nose Australia

Earlier this year, our lives changed forever.

My wife, Shania, and I were expecting twins, but our pregnancy didn’t go as planned. What we thought would be a normal journey quickly became one filled with uncertainty, fear, and countless unknowns.

We live in Port Augusta, but due to complications, Shania had to relocate to Adelaide for specialist care. She spent five weeks there, away from home, family, and the comfort of normal life. Those weeks were some of the hardest we’ve ever experienced.

When our twins arrived prematurely, our world became a cycle of hospital visits, NICU updates, hope, anxiety, and waiting. Every day brought new challenges and new questions. Would they keep growing? Would they stay healthy? When could they finally come home?

One of the hardest parts for me was having to return to Port Augusta for work while Shania remained in Adelaide with our babies. Leaving them behind week after week was heartbreaking. There were multiple occasions when we thought they were finally coming home, only for plans to change at the last minute. It felt like we were living one day at a time, never knowing what the next phone call or doctor’s update would bring.

Thankfully, after weeks of uncertainty, we were finally able to bring our little family back together. Today, we have two beautiful, healthy, cheeky babies who continue to amaze us every day.

We know how fortunate we are.

Throughout our time in hospital, we met families whose journeys looked very different. Some never got to take their babies home. Those conversations and experiences stay with you forever.

That’s why this August I’m taking part in Red Nose Australia’s Red, Set, Go! challenge. I’ll be walking or running at least 3 kilometres every day throughout the month, all on grass while pushing our twins in their pram.

Every step is for the babies who were taken too soon, for the families who continue to live with unimaginable loss, and to help Red Nose Australia continue providing grief support, safe sleep education, and life-saving research.

If our story encourages even one person to support this incredible cause, then sharing it is worth it.

Thank you to everyone who supported our family during those difficult months. Your prayers, messages, meals, encouragement, and kindness helped us more than you’ll ever know.

If you’d like to support my Red Nose challenge, I’d be incredibly grateful. Every donation, no matter how big or small, helps make a difference for families who need it most.