Good Friday Appeal 2024: Family tells of little girl's incredible ...

The parents of a newborn girl who remarkably survived after doctors said she may only live for half an hour are sharing their story in the countdown to this year’s Good Friday Appeal.

Bubbly Lily Rudd and her identical twin sister have just celebrated their first birthday, an unlikely milestone after Lily was born with a grapefruit-sized tumour in her chest, which was crushing her heart and lungs.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Miracle marathon operation to save one of Melbourne’s bravest little fighters.

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“We were told to expect half an hour with Lily,” dad James Rudd said.

“That was all they thought that we would have.”

Lily was taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital for emergency surgery.

“Her prognosis was very bad, but they were still willing to give her a chance,” mum Lexi O’Dea said.

The huge malignant tumour had pushed Lily’s heart sideways and took surgeons eight hours to remove it.

Lily’s condition was so rare that it’s only been seen 30 times globally and never in a twin.

For two months after surgery, the desperately ill baby was on life support – her future hanging in the balance.

After 97 days in hospital, Lily went home.

“It’s miraculous to see how she’s done from such a challenging position,” paediatric surgeon Joseph Crameri said.

The family was reunited with the surgeons who saved their baby girl, grateful to the public for helping fund vital equipment.

“Without them, our family wouldn’t be complete,” Rudd said.

“We owe them everything.

“She’s perfect.”

This year marks the 67th year the Seven Network has broadcast the Good Friday Appeal, which has become an institution for Victorians.

The event raises vital funds for The Royal Children’s Hospital and supports them to provide world-class paediatric medical care.

The broadcast starts early, as from 5.30am Sam Mac will be presenting Sunrise weather live from the hospital and Larry Emdur will be crossing live to The Morning Show from the hospital from 10.00am.

Peter Mitchell, Rebecca Maddern, Jane Bunn and Mike Amor from 7NEWS Melbourne will host a day broadcast from midday that highlights the extraordinary work The Royal Children’s Hospital does every day

The annual Good Friday AFL blockbuster takes centre stage from 4.00pm, when North Melbourne take on Carlton at Marvel Stadium.

From 7.30pm, The Chase Australia and The Morning Show’s Larry Emdur will host a jam-packed live night show, with help from Sunrise’s Mark Beretta at the Country Board and 7NEWS’ Paul Dowsley from the phone room.

ARIA Award winning singer-songwriter Conrad Sewell will be joined by a group of all-star Aussie performers including Kate Miller-Heidke from Seven’s The Voice, the 2024 winner of Australian Idol, Dylan Wright, and Mark Seymour and his daughter Eva.

Good Friday Appeal Executive Director, Rebecca Cowan said: “For 67 years, the Channel 7 Telethon has been a huge part of the Good Friday Appeal experience.

“We are so grateful to Channel 7, Lewis Martin, our Ambassadors Peter Mitchell and Rebecca Maddern, evening telethon host Larry Emdur, and all the other on-air hosts, reporters and performers and behind the scenes teams who give their time to ensure Victorians know about the incredible stories and impact of The Royal Children’s Hospital.

“This year’s Telethon will again be a celebration of the generosity of the community who want to make a difference for sick children and their families.”

For more information and to donate to the Good Friday Appeal, click here.