Big-hearted Leopold locals happy to help couple in need

LEOPOLD parents Hannah and Kylie still feel overwhelmed with emotion knowing how many people – all strangers – were so eager to help in their time of need.
Hundreds of people recently responded to a call-out on Facebook after Hannah accidentally left a heart monitor for their son Indie on the roof of the car and spent hours on foot searching.
“Hannah suggested I ask on the Leopold Community Page if anyone had seen it, having no idea we would get the response we did,” Kylie said.
“We had hundreds of people offering to help look or pay for a new one.
“I declined everyone’s suggestion of a GoFundMe page, but they all decided to do one anyway.
“I’m told that it had to be switched off within an hour as it had already received $650, with many more trying to donate.
“We feel overwhelmed with emotion knowing how many people (all strangers) were so eager to help and cared so much.”
Hannah and Kylie have two children, Baylin, 11, and Indie, 11 months.
Kylie said Indie’s condition was called Wolff Parkinson’s White syndrome and he was diagnosed when he was six months old.
“The Neebo was purchased and took two months to arrive because of COVID and stock issues,” she said.
“It monitors his abnormal heart rate and alerts us when he goes into SVT.
“He’s had several hospital admissions and ambulance rides when this happens suddenly – he turns blue with vomiting and sweating.
“The Neebo gives us an indication it will happen.”

Kylie said the couple moved to Leopold two years ago from Melbourne knowing no one, and in this time had their bub and were surprised with his diagnosis.
“It’s such a beautiful feeling knowing that although we thought we were alone when we moved ….we really aren’t,” she said.
“So many kind and beautiful people so happy to help us and our little boy.”
Kylie said the Neebo was found in “a million pieces”, but they had since ordered two devices and were just waiting for them to arrive from Germany.
“My wife and I are beyond grateful for all that the community has done for us … from the bottom of our hearts we say thank you,” she said.
“We had no idea when putting up a desperate post that we would be greeted with such beautiful souls so happy to help.
“We genuinely did not expect anyone to help us pay for a new device and are overwhelmed by all of your generosity.
“I hope that one day we can pay it forward.”
Kylie said everyone had been so kind to help donate, look for the device, send messages, offer help and share their post.
“You’re all beautiful souls and we will never forget that time that our whole community got behind us and our baby to make sure that he stays safe with a new heart monitor.”