In October, the world waited with anticipation as Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 storm, tore its way through Florida.

Tony, who is a member of East Maitland Parish, was on the holiday of a lifetime travelling the East and West Coasts of the United States with his fiancé, Dayna Sly, when their days in Florida happened to cross over with the impending storm.

Wanting to make the most of their time before the storm hit, the couple spent six hours at Universal Studios in Orlando. It was a bucket list day full of rides, laughter and fun.

When the park closed early at 2PM and visitors were asked to leave, the reality of what was about to come couldn’t be ignored.

“It was unlike anything I’ve encountered in Australia – intense winds, relentless rain and power outages,” said Tony.

They hurried back to the hotel and bunkered down for the evening, until Dayna woke in the morning with shooting pains in her legs, severe bloating and soreness throughout her body.

The Hurricane was still raging outside. Having lost power, Dayna took herself to the bathroom searching for some relief. That relief came as she birthed a baby on the hotel bathroom’s floor. She was 41 weeks pregnant and had no idea.

At the time, Dayna told the Today Show, “I can’t believe how well the baby is considering the some of the stuff Mum was doing, like going on rides and a plane at 41 weeks pregnant, but I had absolutely no idea and no symptoms,” she said.

Dayna said that due to a polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis, as well as the absence of a typical baby bump and morning sickness symptoms, the possibility of being pregnant had never crossed her mind.

“All of a sudden I’m in the middle of a hurricane in a hotel and I’ve given birth,” said Dayna.

Meanwhile, Tony had the shock of his life when he woke up to his new baby daughter, Audrey. It took a few hours before the family were able to be transported to hospital and assessed.

Tony told Aurora both Dayna and Audrey are in great health and doing very well.

“I’m grateful to God for supporting my family and ensuring Audrey is healthy being born the way she was and in a foreign country,” he said.

“We were obviously surprised to welcome a daughter, and it was a bit early for us as we were planning on getting married in May before starting a family. But we are so happy to become parents.”

With Tony and Dayna both Australian citizens, Audrey’s unexpected birth in America meant there were hoops to jump through before they could obtain her Australian passport and return home.

Adjusting to parenthood, navigating visa issues and trying to sustain some type of stability in a foreign country with none of their usual supports were all challenges Dayna and Tony had to face.

Fortunately (or unfortunately), the couple had extensive experience coping with life’s challenges.

Tony was involved in a devastating accident in August 2019 when riding his motorbike. He collided with a truck and was dragged underneath the vehicle for 370 metres.

“I suffered from many broken bones and was left with a lifelong disability,” said Tony.

“I’ve undergone approximately 20 surgeries since then, which has been a gruelling process.

“But the fact that I survived is what deepened my faith and led me to where I am now.”

It’s this faith that carried him through when the path forward wasn’t always clear. Tony’s innate trust in God was at the forefront even while after the birth of Audrey, the prospect of returning home any time soon felt out of reach.

“It was daunting, not knowing what the coming weeks were going to bring,” said Tony.

“But we tried to enjoy the moment as much as we could, all the while trusting and hoping that everything would align and we would be able to bring our daughter home.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade expedited the process and after a couple of weeks, we were able to return to Australia,” he said.

“We’re incredibly happy and grateful to the Australian government for making this happen.”

Over the past five years, Tony has become a valued member of the East Maitland Parish, even taking part in the Diocese’s Rite of Election last year.

“God saved my life and now He has ensured Audrey arrived safely,” said Tony.

“I feel blessed to be where I am today, and I know I’m protected being in God’s hands. Whatever comes our way, I trust things will pan out exactly as they are meant to.”

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