This was published 8 years ago
Aviana's first birthday defies terminal SMA diagnosis
Bethan and Johnny McElwee were told their baby Aviana had months to live. As they celebrated her first birthday, they allowed themselves to hope for more. Aviana has Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 1 which has a life expectancy of 1 to 2 years. Follow us on <a href="http://twitter.com/photosSMH">Twitter</a>
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Bethan McElwee and Jonathan McElwee with their one-year-old daughter Aviana in Canberra last month.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
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Bethan McElwee with her daughter Aviana on her first birthday.Credit:Louise Kennerley
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Bethan and Johnny McElwee at home with their daughter Aviana McElwee on her first birthday, opening some birthday gifts.Credit:Louise Kennerley
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Bethan and Johnny McElwee with their daughter Aviana on her first birthday.Credit:Louise Kennerley
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Bethan McElwee with her daughter Aviana McElwee at home on her first birthday.Credit:Louise Kennerley
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Bethan McElwee and Johnny McElwee with their daughter Aviana on her first birthday. The family enjoy a picnic at sunset at Cassuarina Beach, Darwin, NT.Credit:Louise Kennerley
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Bethan and Johnny McElwee hold a first birthday party for their daughter Aviana at their Darwin home.Credit:Louise Kennerley
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Bethan McElwee holds Aviana as she inspects her birthday decorations. Credit:Louise Kennerley
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Bethan McElwee with her daughter Aviana at her first birthday party.Credit:Louise Kennerley
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Bethan McElwee and Johnny McElwee hold a first birthday party for their daughter Aviana at their Darwin home.Credit:Louise Kennerley
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Bethan McElwee and her mother Chris Bethan, during the first birthday party for their daughter Aviana at their Darwin home.Credit:Louise Kennerley
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Bethan and Johnny McElwee with Aviana and their niece, at Aviana's first birthday party at their home in Darwin.Credit:Louise Kennerley
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Bethan and Johnny McElwee hold a first birthday party for their daughter Aviana at their Darwin home.Credit:Louise Kennerley
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Bethan and husband Johnny McElwee hold a first birthday party for their daughter Aviana at their Darwin home.Credit:Louise Kennerley
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Bethan and Johnny McElwee with their daughter Aviana on her first birthday.Credit:Louise Kennerley
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Bethan and Johhny McElwee watch the sun set at Dripstone Cliffs in Darwin on Aviana's first birthday. Credit:Louise Kennerley
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Bethan McElwee with her daughter Aviana during physiotherapy session.Credit:Louise Kennerley
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Johnny McElwee holding his giggling daughter at Aviana's 6 month birthday party.Credit:Kate Geraghty
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Six month old Aviana McElwee with her parents in their room at Ronald McDonald House in Randwick, Sydney.Credit:Kate Geraghty
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Six month old Aviana McElwee (center) laughs as she is entertained by her parents before she has a lumbar injection at the Sydney Children's Hospital.Credit:Kate Geraghty