Alyssa

Alyssa's mum was having a tough time looking after a new baby on her own. A couple of weeks after Alyssa was born the early childhood nurse noticed that Alyssa's mum was really struggling, so much so that she wasn't meeting either her own or her baby's needs.

Alyssa's mum was diagnosed with severe postnatal depression and it was considered unsafe for Alyssa to stay with her mum while she was sick.

Alyssa was matched with short term carers Zahra and Darren. As Zahra doesn't work, they've got the time to care for a newborn. Zahra and Darren also live in the next suburb to Alyssa's mum, so she is still seen by the same early childhood clinic, and it's easy for them to take her to visit her mum three times a week

Alyssa's mum is getting medical help and having counselling. She's really looking forward to when her life is back on track so that her daughter can come home. Zahra and Darren have also got to know Alyssa's mum and have seen some really positive changes in her over the past couple of months.

If all continues to go well, Alyssa will be able to go home to her mum in about 6 months. Zahra and Darren will really miss Alyssa but they also know they've helped give a young family another chance, and helped a child when they needed it most.