Online appeal to help struggling twins

An online crowdfunding campaign has been launched to help raise $20,000 for a Broome couple who had to relocate to Perth to access life-saving medical care for their premature twins.

Emergency service volunteer Steven Lockwood moved down south with his wife Nicola Biggs after she went into early labour and had to be flown to King Edward Memorial Hospital by the Royal Flying Doctor Service for an emergency caesarean at 25 weeks gestation.

She gave birth to twins Harper and Arthur on December 8, weighing 920g and 745g respectively.

Both boys suffer significant health problems and are now at Princess Margaret Hospital after Arthur underwent heart and brain surgery.

They remain in intensive care awaiting further surgery.

Friends and fellow Broome volunteers Tanya Smith and Victoria Gardener set up an online campaign to support the family.

“They are chewing through their savings, have limited money coming in and are not sure when they will be able to return to work,” Ms Smith said.

She said the couple had given so much to the Broome community since moving from the UK, with Mr Lockwood volunteering as a firefighter for the Broome Bushfire Brigade and an ambulance officer for St John, while Ms Biggs volunteers as a firefighter with the Broome Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service.

She said the campaign was a chance to help them in their time of need.

Speaking to the Broome Advertiser from Perth, Mr Lockwood said the couple was overwhelmed by the level of support and thanked staff at Broome Hospital, the RFDS, KEMH, PMH, Ronald McDonald House, friends, family and the wider community.

To support the cause, visit www.gofundme.com and search for Nicola Biggs.