Donna Williams had always known the joy of motherhood, but when she and her partner Davey faced the unimaginable loss of their son Bobby, their lives were shattered. What followed was a journey filled with pain, healing, and a second chance at love—one that defied the odds and brought them a miracle.
It all began when Donna, 30, was introduced to Davey at a little people convention in Melbourne. Born with achondroplasia, or dwarfism, Donna had never encountered someone like Davey before, but there was an instant connection. Though they lived in different states, they kept in touch, meeting up at conventions and talking on the phone. But when Donna was 19, she learned through mutual friends that Davey had married. Devastated, she tried to move on, eventually marrying herself. However, her marriage ended in heartache, and she never forgot about Davey.
Fourteen years later, Davey reached out to Donna on Facebook, and old feelings resurfaced. Nervously, they began messaging each other, reconnecting after all those years. Davey, now living in Cairns and divorced, had been working as an actor. After months of online communication, Donna decided to visit him. The reunion was nothing short of magical. When they met, it felt like no time had passed, and the love they had once shared quickly rekindled.
After several months, Donna and Davey moved in together and began trying for a baby. They were overjoyed when Donna fell pregnant, but the pregnancy came with its own set of challenges. The couple had been told that there was a 75 percent chance their child would inherit achondroplasia, but there was also a small chance the baby would inherit a double dose of the gene, which could be fatal. As the 20-week scan approached, the tension was unbearable. Would their baby be okay?
The scan brought some relief. “You’re having a boy,” the doctor said, smiling. “He has the dwarfism gene, but not the double dose.” Donna and Davey were ecstatic, believing that they could raise their child with the same love and joy they had shared. But life had other plans.
At 27 weeks, Donna began feeling something was wrong. It was the night of Davey’s father’s funeral, and Donna feared her waters had broken. They rushed to the hospital, and during the ultrasound, the news was devastating. “It’s the double dose,” the doctor said gently. “Your baby won’t survive.” The couple was faced with an unimaginable choice: terminate one set of twins to give the other two a better chance at life. But they couldn’t make that decision.
The following weeks were filled with heartache as Donna carried their baby boy, whom they named Bobby, until he was born via caesarean at 35 weeks. For five heartbreaking days, they watched their son struggle to survive. “What do we do?” Davey asked, unable to contain his tears. Donna could only whisper to their son, “Your grandad will look after you in heaven.” After five agonizing days, they said goodbye to their baby boy.
Leaving the hospital without their son was the most devastating experience of their lives. The pain of losing Bobby was unbearable, but with the support of Davey and their family, Donna began to heal. “How will we ever get through this?” Donna asked, not knowing how to move on from such a tragic loss. After months of grieving, Donna and Davey were finally ready to try again.
A year later, Donna discovered she was pregnant again. This time, they were given reassurance that their baby did not have the double dose of the gene. But the fear of losing another child remained. However, when Donna gave birth to their son Mason in September 2012, the relief and joy were immeasurable. “You’re perfect,” Donna whispered as she held Mason for the first time.
Mason, now 20 months old, has had his challenges, including a tracheotomy to help with his breathing and surgeries to drain fluid from his skull due to his small size. But he is thriving, and Donna and Davey are filled with pride as they watch their miracle son grow. “We may be a family of little people, but we have a huge amount of love to go around,” Donna says, her heart full of gratitude for the family they have built together.
Despite the hardships they’ve faced, Donna and Davey’s love story is one of resilience, hope, and the belief that life has a way of bringing miracles when least expected. Their journey is a reminder that even in the darkest times, love and perseverance can lead to the greatest rewards.
A DIY Disaster Turned Life-Changing Accident: How One Aussie Dad Lost His Leg 390
It was supposed to be a simple task. Brandon Ford, a 32-year-old father from Queensland, had climbed onto the roof of his home to fix a leaking section. As an electrician, he knew the risks and safety measures, but that day, in the rush to get the job done, he neglected to wear a safety harness. What seemed like a routine fix turned into a disaster that would change his life forever.
Brandon’s wife, Eleni, had been inside with their two daughters, Lylah, 4, and Elouise, 2, when she called out to him. “Can you get down from there? I don’t want to spend Father’s Day in the emergency room tomorrow!” she joked, unaware of the tragedy that would soon unfold. Brandon, in a hurry to finish the job, decided to climb down. But as he reached for a hose to clean some mold on the roof, he lost his footing on the slippery surface. He slipped 15 meters across the roof before falling three meters onto the front yard below.
For a brief moment, Brandon thought he had made it through unscathed. “I made it,” he thought triumphantly. But then, as he landed on his feet, the sickening snap of his right ankle breaking echoed through the air. His foot flopped around like jelly, and his ankle twisted at an unnatural angle.
Eleni, horrified by the sight, rushed to call an ambulance. Brandon’s injuries were severe, and he was quickly transported to Princess Alexandra Hospital, where doctors would soon reveal the extent of the damage. X-rays showed that Brandon’s tibia was shattered in 28 places. His fibula had been cracked both horizontally and vertically, and the impact of the fall had caused severe damage to his bones, tissues, and muscles.
Over the next several weeks, Brandon underwent a series of surgeries. His leg was stabilized with an external fixator—metal scaffolding to hold the broken pieces of his leg together. Despite this, his recovery was far from straightforward. Infections and complications kept him in the hospital for months. Brandon contracted compartment syndrome, a painful condition caused by pressure in the muscles, which required additional procedures to manage.
Despite the setbacks, Brandon tried to stay positive. He was determined to return to his family, to his wife, and his daughters. But the road to recovery was long and filled with anguish. After months of surgeries and treatments, including 12 surgeries in the first month alone, Brandon’s body began to heal. But his leg never fully recovered. His muscles had atrophied, and he had developed a constant infection in his shin bone.
In June 2024, after months of pain, it became clear that Brandon’s leg could not be saved. Doctors informed him that the only option was amputation. Though the decision to amputate was incredibly difficult, Brandon knew it was the only way to finally escape the chronic pain that had ruled his life for over a year.
“I wanted to be the hands-on father I used to be,” Brandon explains. “The pain was too much to bear, and I knew that with a prosthetic leg, I could start living my life again.” After consulting with his family and his doctors, Brandon agreed to the amputation. In February 2025, after 18 months of agonizing pain, his right leg was amputated below the knee.
The first moments after the surgery were a bittersweet mix of relief and sadness. “Looking at my missing leg for the first time was surreal,” Brandon recalls. “I was glad to be free from the pain, but it was hard to adjust to this new reality.”
Recovery continued with the fitting of a prosthetic limb in June 2025. The pain of learning to walk with the new leg was unbearable at first, but Brandon was determined to keep going. “At first, I could barely take a few steps,” he says. “But I was so determined to get back on my feet. I ended up doing 100 laps of the room to build my strength.”
By August 2025, Brandon had regained enough strength to enjoy some of the activities he had missed. He went on his first family camping trip with his new prosthetic leg and was able to walk around, play with his daughters, and join in on family activities once again. “I feel like I’m back to my old self,” he says with a smile.
Looking back on the ordeal, Brandon is quick to offer advice to others who might be tempted to take on risky DIY projects. “If you’re working on a roof, wear a harness,” he warns. “Better yet, if it’s risky, leave it to the professionals. A simple mistake can change your life forever.”
Despite everything he’s been through, Brandon remains positive. “It’s been tough, but I’m determined to keep pushing forward. One step at a time.” Now, as he watches his daughters grow and enjoys his new life with his family, Brandon is grateful for the second chance he has been given.
