IT IS a story that has unfolded as an incomprehensible tragedy.
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Thirteen weeks ago, little Maddison Wren entered the world seven weeks early, to the surprise of her parents Ashley and Jayne, during what was to be a brief trip to the Fijian islands for a friend’s wedding.
A four day holiday became a month-long ordeal for the couple as the joy of parenthood was swiftly replaced with the exhausting anxiety of doing whatever they could to keep their fragile little gift, weighing just 1.7kg, alive and well long enough to bring her home.
The Port Macquarie community rallied behind the young family, raising more than $20,000 to cover hospital costs and a doctor-assisted journey back to Australia.
After a 30-day stay in Nadi Hospital, the Wrens were able to bid Fiji farewell and return to Port Macquarie where they could finally begin to write the next chapter of their life together as a family.
What was to unfold just one week later, shocked the entire community and left a young mother wondering how she could possibly continue on her own.
After a 30-day stay in Nadi Hospital, the Wrens were able to bid Fiji farewell and return to Port Macquarie.
“When we left Nadi hospital it just broke our hearts that they were able to take such great care of us without a lot of facilities or equipment,” Jayne said.
“They were beautiful people who gave whatever they had to help Ashley and I. When we were leaving we walked up the hill from Nadi hospital and the sun was setting. We had tears in our eyes - it was a bittersweet end, we didn’t want to leave.
“Ashley looked at me and asked me what we should do.
“We decided there and then that we would return in one year with Maddi and see the nursing staff and thank them for the wonderful job they had done.
“Ashley was so excited about it. He was a man who just wanted to give back and help people.”
Jayne holds her little girl close. Just mentioning Ashley’s name takes her breath away.
One week after the couple returned to Port Macquarie, life for Jayne took an ineffable turn.
She found Ashley slumped on the lounge. He fell to the floor. Her husband of six years, the love of her life, had died of a massive heart attack.
For Jayne, in that brief but painfully infinite moment, life stood still.
Speaking with the Port News this week, nine weeks after Ashley’s death, the grief is raw and time ticks over slowly.
“The grieving is still so painful - I can’t think of how to do the simple things.
“You just never think it will happen to you. He was 41 - it has just been such a shock,” Jayne said.
“The smallest things now just seem so huge at the moment.”
There is one very important small thing keeping Jayne’s strength and resilience burning - her little rock, Maddison.
“I took Maddison out for the first time. I went to Westport Park to walk into town. I passed the swim start where Ashley did the Ironman - it was just so hard. It’s so hard,” she said as little Maddison nuzzled into her neck.
“Each day is so different. Sometimes I wake up strong, get stuff done and cope well. I guess it’s just putting one foot in front of the other.
“I am so overwhelmed and grateful for the support of my family and friends and the entire community. I can’t thank everyone enough.”
Jayne says Port Macquarie is her home and will be the place she will raise her daughter. She will remind Maddison every day of the true hero her daddy was.
St Columba Anglican School, where Ashley taught year one, held a memorial service honouring his life, sending a gardener to Jayne’s home to plant three rose bushes for each of them.
“Ashley just loved people and loved life and wanted everyone to be happy,” Jayne said. “He is a great example for people of how to live - he didn’t waste a second.
“He is the most positive person I know. I was lucky I had six wonderful years with him.
“But that just wasn’t long enough.”
JAYNE Wren is honouring her husband Ashley’s dream to give back to the community that gave them care, love and support following the premature birth of their daughter Maddison.
With the support of Karen Abbott, founder of charity organisation Fiji-Oz, Jayne is asking the Hastings community to dig deep this Saturday and donate clothing, blankets and toys as a part of a fundraiser she is leading to thank the staff at Nadi Hospital.
Principal of St Columba Anglican School, Terry Muldoon, will open the school grounds and accept good quality and clean donations of items on Saturday between 9am and 1pm.
Mrs Abbott saw Jayne’s story in a television interview and contacted her offering assistance.
“I was sleeping in the hospital bed her charity had donated to Nadi hospital,” Jayne said.
All goods donated will be passed on to Fiji-Oz and then shipped to schools and hospitals in Nadi.
“One of the things Ashley wanted was to give back to the hospital. People have already been so incredibly generous and giving,” Jayne said. “This will give me something positive to focus on.”