An Alexandra Hills family preparing for the possibility of bringing one premature twin daughter home is facing fresh uncertainty after her sister suffered an unexpected health setback following successful heart surgery.
Anton and Julie Ann Vlahos have spent more than three months balancing hospital visits with caring for their three-year-old daughter, Ariah. Their twins, Hallie Lumi and Faith Julianna-Rae, have remained in hospital since their extremely premature birth, with each facing a different path towards recovery.
In an update on 7 October, Anton revealed that Faith had suddenly deteriorated over the preceding 72 hours for reasons that remained unknown. The family had stayed close to the hospital since early that week, and although Faith was slowly improving, her condition remained serious.
A Fragile Recovery After Heart Surgery
Born on 30 June at just 26 weeks and two days of gestation, Hallie weighed 737 grams, while Faith weighed only 459 grams. Both required extensive neonatal care from birth, but Faith’s complications have been particularly severe. At seven days old, Faith developed a bowel perforation caused by necrotising enterocolitis, a potentially life-threatening intestinal condition affecting premature babies. She underwent surgery and received an ileostomy to allow her bowel to heal.
Her medical difficulties continued with serious respiratory problems, infections and prolonged reliance on a ventilator. She also experienced emergencies requiring resuscitation and developed patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a condition involving a blood vessel that fails to close after birth, allowing additional blood to flow into the lungs.
Faith underwent an operation at Mater Mothers in late September to close the vessel. Her father confirmed on 25 September that the procedure had succeeded, with her surgical drain removed and her circulation appearing to adjust well. The family’s relief was interrupted by her subsequent deterioration in early October. The latest update reported gradual improvement, although Faith was not yet out of danger.
One Daughter Nearing Home, Another Still In Hospital
While Faith continues receiving intensive care, Hallie has progressed into Special Care after months of respiratory support, feeding tubes and medical monitoring. She has been learning to drink from a bottle and building the strength needed for discharge. Her parents had hoped she might return home within a fortnight of early October, provided she could manage her feeds and come off oxygen support. No firm discharge date has been confirmed.
Hallie’s eventual homecoming will also create a difficult arrangement for the family. Anton and Julie Ann will need to care for Hallie and Ariah at home while continuing daily hospital visits to Faith, whose discharge remains uncertain. The extended hospital stay has already affected the couple’s ability to work and increased their everyday expenses. Transport, parking, meals and household bills have continued alongside the demands of caring for their daughters.
Anton established a GoFundMe campaign on 18 September to help the family manage those costs while remaining involved in both twins’ care. The fundraiser, Our 26-Week Miracles: Help Us Be There Every Day, had received $1,650 from 22 donations towards a $5,000 target in the supplied campaign snapshot. Donations are intended to assist with living expenses, hospital travel and the costs of caring for the twins during their recovery.
Published 7-October-2026
