Kerrie Richardson always dreamed of becoming a wife and mother … just not on the same day!
Standing barefoot on a sun-soaked tropical beach, childhood sweethearts Kerrie and Ben Richardson thought nothing could possibly be more exciting than exchanging wedding vows in front of their family and friends.
But hours after saying “I do” on the golden sands of Queensland’s Hamilton Island, Kerrie – who was 26 weeks pregnant – went into early labour. As she was being airlifted to hospital in an emergency chopper, she gave birth to a baby girl weighing just 980 grams, whom they’ve named Taylor.
“I was in a complete shock,” says Kerrie, 30. “One minute I’m celebrating my marriage and the next thing I’m a mother – it’s just crazy.”
“It was just a total state of disbelief,” adds Ben. “We’re 5000 feet above sea level in a noisy helicopter over some sort of mountain range. It was like a scene out of the movies.”
Just hours earlier, the newlyweds had been celebrating their “relaxing” wedding day with the help of their guests. “It couldn’t have been more perfect,” says Kerrie. “The beaches were idyllic and the food fantastic. We were having the time of our lives.
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