Nine's Tracy Vo was pregnant when a scan showed the unthinkable. Here's why she's sharing her story
It took a long time for much-loved 9News presenter Tracy Vo to realise her dream of becoming a mother. The Perth-based weekend newsreader and television reporter even thought she might have missed the boat before meeting now-husband Liam Connolly in 2021.
After a whirlwind romance, they married in 2023 and were excited to learn just months later they were expecting their first child together.
Now Vo, who welcomed her 'rainbow baby', daughter Mila in October 2025, will pay tribute to her son today by saying his name, and urges others to do the same.
Vo had almost given up on love before she met Connolly on a dating app in 2021.
After marrying in October 2023, they were planning to start IVF when they learned in April 2024 that Vo had fallen pregnant naturally at 40.
"We held off [IVF]... because we went on a trip to the US," Vo told nine.com.au. "And then when we got back from the trip we found out I was pregnant."
The couple could not believe their good luck, and were thrilled after early tests showed all was well and they were expecting a little boy.
But then an ultrasound around 12-13 weeks showed some "abnormalities".
Doctors continued to monitor the pregnancy but with each scan came more bad news.
Their baby was measuring below the first percentile in size and by their final scan at 20 weeks, doctors told the couple he would not survive to full-term.
An ultrasound taken during the pregnancy.
"It was our decision to deliver," said Vo. "It was a decision... I would never wish upon anyone."
Baby James arrived on August 15, 2024.
They spent the afternoon, evening and next morning with their son, taking photos and getting hand and footprints made. Vo described this time as "a gift".
Despite knowing they would never take their son home, Vo was unprepared for the moment of the final goodbye.
"It was horrible to say goodbye one last time," she told nine.com.au through tears.
"That was really hard."
After a nurse carried James from their hospital room for the last time, she and Connolly went home without their baby, something she said was "surreal".
Vo announced James' death in a post on Instagram.
"I carried you for five months, but you just weren't meant for this world," she wrote.
"We named you James Connolly. You arrived at 4:20pm August 15, 2024. You were perfect with the cutest button nose and gorgeous little lips.
"Our hearts are broken, but we have found comfort knowing you are at peace. Mum and Dad love you so much, and we are so proud of you.
"We held you in our arms for a moment. We will love you for a lifetime."
In the weeks that followed, doctors told the couple they suspected a problem with the placenta was the cause after ruling out a genetic issue, and were told there was a 5 to 10 per cent chance of it happening again.
They decided to try for another baby, this time via IVF, something Vo is grateful they had the option of.
Vo fell pregnant after one round, and following an anxious pregnancy, the couple welcomed daughter Mila Anh on October 2, 2025.
But while motherhood is punctuated by many firsts for Vo, one thing she is sure about is that she is not a first-time mum.
"It's an interesting one because I've had a lot of discussions with people about this, and I feel like Mila is my second [child] but it is always so hard because I do get asked a lot, 'Is she your first?', obviously by strangers," she said.
"Sometimes I explain, 'Actually, it's our second, I lost our first', when I feel like it's appropriate.
"Other times I kind of feel a bit drained from having to explain... or to be honest, worried about the reaction of that person.
"It's hard."
Liam with Mila.
It is for this reason, and the awkwardness that still surrounds pregnancy and infant loss, that Vo is now speaking for the first time about James.
"You don't want to make it awkward for other people but... grief and loss is awkward," Vo said.
"That's why... I want to open the conversation a bit more and normalise it so it's not such a stigmatised and awkward situation for people.
"We are not trying to make it awkward, but just try to enlighten people that this is real life and it happens to a lot of families out there."
Vo has joined forces with leading Australian charity Red Nose Australia as a bereavement ambassador.
Red Nose Australia offers support to bereaved parents.
Red Nose Australia started out raising awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
When SIDS rates improved, the organisation expanded to offering bereavement support to families affected by stillbirth, pregnancy loss and all baby or childhood deaths.
Among its initiatives is Say Their Name Day, which is held each year on March 25 to encourage bereaved parents and the wider community to honour the losses and recognise the profound impact on their loved ones.
The organisation announced her role this week in a post on Instagram which was also shared with Vo's followers.
"In loving memory of James," the post began.
"Thank you @Tracy_Vo and Mila for joining us this Say Their Name Day to remember beautiful James.
"We are so honoured you have trusted us to remember his legacy with you."
Vo had long been a supporter of the Red Nose charity and Red Nose Day, but like many of us, was blissfully unaware how common pregnancy loss was until it affected her.
Despite being familiar with the Red Nose charity, she said she could "absolutely not" have ever imagined she would one day need their support.
In the months after losing James, she came across Say Their Name Day and decided to add his name to a memorial in honour of children who had passed.
"I know it is such a small thing but it was just so nice and it kind of gave us a bit of comfort to see his name somewhere," she said.
After welcoming Mila, Vo said she
After welcoming Mila, she found herself reaching out to Red Nose to offer to help raise awareness of its work.
Vo hopes that by telling her story, it will lift the taboo that still surrounds pregnancy and infant loss.
"I felt compelled to be able to share our story a bit more and allow others to feel comfortable speaking about their loss," she said.
Nor is he ever away from their minds.
"I think that James has been looking after me," Vo said.
He is also present not just in their hearts but their home, where there is a shrine in his honour.
"His ashes are in a little urn and we've got his hand and footprints framed," Vo said.
The shrine to Tracy Vo's son James inside her home.
"We had a little bunny Jelly Cat... and we've kept that just for him and we've also got his beanie and wrap.
"He is out first and he will always be part of our family."
The Red Nose Grief and Loss Support Line is available 24/7 for anyone affected by the loss of a pregnancy, stillbirth or death of a baby or child on 1300 308 307.
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