Gently singing a lullaby to his beautiful baby daughter, country singer Jason Owen feels doubly blessed that tiny Lyla Rose is alive and thriving.
The X Factor star and his beloved wife Becy could so easily have lost their little girl through a freak prenatal car crash, then in a terrifying medical crisis only hours after her birth.
Jason and his beloved wife Becy with baby Lyla.
(Image: Jessie Walker Photography)“It was pretty traumatic,” says the proud, and mightily relieved, first-time father. “Thankfully, touch wood, Lyla is very, very healthy today and she’s absolutely beautiful.
“But it was bloody horrific to see Becy and Lyla rushed off in an ambulance, lights flashing and sirens going, with tubes up the baby’s nose and down her throat. It’s something many parents have experienced, but now I know how that feels.”
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Previously, when Becy was seven-and-a-half months pregnant, she was lucky to escape serious injury when her car was tail-ended at traffic lights on her way home from work. It was a horrible jolt for the mum-to-be – and for Jason, who rushed to be by her side.
“Of course, the first thing that goes through your mind is the worst case scenario,” admits the affable 28-year-old, a “born romantic” who proposed live on national TV three years ago. “The crash was a massive jolt that threw Becy forwards, so it could have put her into early labour. Honestly, it was scary.”
Becy and baby Lyla were home after two nights in hospital.
(Image: Jessie Walker Photography)Luckily, everyone came through unscathed and baby stayed put until 4.14am on March 3, when she arrived at Gosford Hospital on the NSW Central Coast, weighing 3.17kg and measuring 48cm long.
Just six hours later, 27-year-old Becy and her newborn were in an ambulance being transferred, at top speed, to Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney. Doctors feared Lyla might have a life-threatening twisted bowel, requiring immediate specialist surgery.
Distraught, Jason was left behind. There was only room for one parent in the emergency vehicle – and he had to stay home to give the couple’s diabetic rescue dog Princess her insulin jab.
“It was such a shock, but we were really lucky,” reveals Jason, who shot to fame as runner-up to Samantha Jade on The X Factor in 2012. “It turned out to be a false alarm so Becy and baby were home after two nights.”
Jason was runner-up in season four of The X Factor.
(Image: Seven)Gratefully, the “boy from the bush” is settling into family life with cute bundle Lyla Rose.
“Lyla because we liked the name, and Rose after Becy’s aunt, who sadly died of a heart defect at age 13,” explains the doting novice dad. “I’m very fortunate that Becy is a great mother and works in early childhood education, because I have no idea how I’d cope without her.
“I never had any siblings and I was the only kid in town, so this is a brand new experience for me,” grins Jason, who grew up in the flyspeck village of Albert, in outback NSW. “I’m a worrier and if I had a partner who hadn’t had much to do with children I’d be in trouble!”
Becy, who wed self-confessed “softie” Jason last June, laughs giving her take on his fatherhood skills.
“He’s really good, he’s learning and he wants to learn.
“He’s done a few nappy changes. Not many, he’s still trying to come to terms with all that. He’s so scared of hurting Lyla by accident, he treats her like she’s made of tissue paper. But I know he’ll soon be picking her up with confidence!”
“He’s so scared of hurting Lyla by accident, he treats her like she’s made of tissue paper.”
(Image: Jessie Walker Photography)That’s just one of the big things in store for Jason. He and Becy have introduced Lyla to her great-grandfather, John “Pop” Owen, 93, who travelled all the way from Albert. And soon, the much-applauded performer will be back on the road with his Jason Owen Sings John Denver: The Acoustic Sessions show and with his charity, Doin It For Rural Aussie Kids.
“It’s just great to get out and play live music again,” he laughs, already planning to take his little family on tour with him, at least some of the time.
“We’re so thrilled to introduce Lyla to everyone. She’s changed our lives forever and given us a whole new outlook. Honestly, she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to us!”
