On Mother’s Day in 2016, Maddie Francis, then 30 weeks pregnant, found herself facing the unimaginable. That day, her baby, who had always been active in her belly, stopped moving. Despite trying everything—drinking cold drinks, eating sweet juice, changing positions—there was no response from her unborn son, Ashton.
As a mother, Maddie’s intuition told her that something was wrong. She and her cousin spent the day waiting, hoping for the baby’s familiar kicks to reassure them. But when nothing happened, Maddie couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. By the next morning, still feeling uneasy, Maddie went to the hospital.
The staff at the hospital reassured her that everything seemed fine. The heartbeat was good, blood flow was normal, and the baby was likely just resting. They even suggested that she go home and wait another week before coming back if she still felt uneasy. But Maddie’s gut told her something different. She refused to leave until she knew her son was safe.
When Maddie returned to the hospital the next day, the intake nurse was dismissive, brushing off her concerns. But when the fetal monitor was hooked up to Maddie’s belly, everything changed. The nurse’s demeanor shifted immediately, and soon Maddie found herself in the hands of a much more concerned doctor. “You need to call your husband. Your baby is coming out today,” the doctor said calmly but urgently.
Maddie’s heart sank. She hadn’t expected this, but she quickly called her husband to deliver the life-altering news. “Yeah, so they’re going to take the baby out, hun. You need to get here.”
While waiting for her husband to arrive, Maddie was given magnesium to protect Ashton’s brain and steroids to help develop his tiny lungs. Unfortunately, these medications take at least 12 hours to be effective, and time was running out. Ashton’s condition continued to deteriorate.
Maddie’s biggest fear, now a terrifying reality, was that her son would not survive the early birth. She was still small for the gestational age, and the thought of delivering a tiny, premature baby left her feeling hopeless. She wasn’t prepared for what was coming.
When her husband arrived at the hospital, he was told that had Maddie waited even one more hour to come back, Ashton might not have survived. The doctors explained that if she had ignored her instincts, they would have been dealing with a stillbirth instead of a live birth. For Maddie, it was the confirmation of just how important it was to trust a mother’s instinct, no matter what the doctors said.
Maddie stayed eerily calm as the chaos around her unfolded. But when it came time for her emergency cesarean, everything hit her all at once. The room was filled with 18 staff members, all waiting to save her son’s life. The overwhelming number of people, all there for one tiny baby, left Maddie feeling a rush of panic and fear. She began shaking uncontrollably, unable to process the magnitude of the moment.
It was then that a man named Joseph, likely an anesthetist technician, approached her. He saw her fear and held her hands gently, offering a hug that Maddie desperately needed. With his arms around her, she felt the tension release for just a moment, allowing the procedure to continue.
The moment was one of pure kindness, and it became a memory Maddie would never forget. They named the first teddy bear Ashton was given after Joseph, a tribute to the man who had offered her comfort in the midst of fear.
Ashton was born prematurely and immediately whisked away to the NICU. He was hooked up to countless machines, surrounded by wires and monitors. The sight of him, so small and fragile, connected to so many devices, was a stark reminder of how much he still needed to survive. “The sounds, the smells, the whole NICU experience. It never leaves you,” Maddie reflected, as the memory of those days remained etched in her mind.
During Ashton’s six and a half weeks in the NICU, Maddie and her family faced daily challenges. Ashton couldn’t breathe on his own and needed to be intubated immediately. But with the help of the NICU staff, who worked tirelessly to save his life, Ashton began to stabilize. The support of the doctors and nurses, though unspoken, was a lifeline for Maddie as she navigated the terrifying world of the NICU. It wasn’t just a medical battle—it was an emotional one as well.
To honor Ashton’s difficult journey and give back to the community that had supported her, Maddie created a nonprofit organization called NICU Cheer. She set out to provide gift bags to families with premature and sick babies, as well as hampers for the staff and boxes of toys, art supplies, and games for the NICU family rooms.
“Seeing your baby with wires coming out of them all over is terrifying,” Maddie said, reflecting on the trauma of those early days. “But it’s also wonderful to see what they can do to keep our tiniest little ones alive. That’s why I started NICU Cheer—to give back to the NICU that saved my son.”
Maddie’s nonprofit has grown over the years, and now, three years later, NICU Cheer delivers gift bags to three major hospitals in Melbourne—The Mercy Hospital for Women, The Royal Women’s Hospital, and Monash Children’s Hospital. They have done this for three Christmases in a row, and in 2020, Maddie planned to expand with Mother’s and Father’s Day deliveries.
With each passing year, the number of bags delivered has grown. What started as a small act of kindness has become a significant community effort, thanks to Maddie’s passion and dedication. She works year-round, contacting companies and collecting donated or discounted items to include in the NICU gift bags. What started as a small idea to give back has turned into a life-changing initiative for families in need.
Ashton, now 3 and a half years old, is still facing health challenges. He continues to undergo testing for ongoing brain bleeds and extreme fatigue. Despite the struggles, Maddie remains hopeful and determined. “Every time, without fail, I have trusted my mother’s gut,” Maddie said. “It’s always been right.”
Through her experiences, Maddie has learned patience, unconditional love, and the importance of advocating for her child. More than anything, she has learned that while life doesn’t always turn out the way you expect, it’s the moments of connection, compassion, and giving back that make it meaningful.
Thanks to Ashton’s journey, Maddie’s life has been filled with a sense of purpose. She is not just helping her son heal—she is healing others by giving back to the premature and sick baby community. And as she continues to push forward, she is reminded daily of the blessings that come with helping others, even in the most difficult of circumstances.