Former Home and Away star Christie Hayes has made a deeply emotional revelation about her relationship with her 11-year-old son, Hendrix, who has Level 3 autism. The 39-year-old actress-turned-radio host appeared on Channel Seven's The Morning Show on Thursday, where she opened up about the challenges her family has faced.
A Mother's Heartbreaking Admission
Speaking candidly with hosts Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies, Christie shared that she has never been able to have a proper conversation with Hendrix. 'Hendrix didn't say the word mum until he was four. I've never really heard him have ... You know when you see memes and they go, "If you could have a conversation with anyone, who would it be?" It would be my little boy,' she said. 'I've never had a proper conversation with my son.'
She emphasised the need for greater patience and understanding towards individuals with autism and their families. 'I think that the world needs to be more patient with people that live with autism, and any parent out there knows what it's like to have an autistic child. There are wonderful days, but there's also really hard days - meltdowns, lack of sleep. It is difficult at times. It's a wonderful job as motherhood is in any capacity.'
Advocacy and Awareness
Christie, who rose to fame in 2000 playing teen wild child Kirsty Sutherland on Home and Away, encouraged viewers to participate in Walk for Autism in May. The campaign challenges participants to walk 7,000 steps a day while raising funds and awareness.
In an Instagram post earlier this month, she elaborated on her relationship with Hendrix. 'He still has limited speech,' she wrote. 'And I sometimes wonder if he knows what he's saying when he parrots me back and tells me he loves me. As Hendrix's mum, my job is to make sure he never walks alone. To stand beside him, to advocate for him, and to be his voice when he doesn't quite have one yet.'
Family Life and IVF Journey
Christie is a mother of three: sons Hendrix, 11, and Harley, 10, from her previous marriage to Daniel White, and daughter Marigold 'Goldie', born in November 2025, with her husband Justin Coombes-Pearce. The couple, both radio hosts, endured a gruelling four-year IVF journey before welcoming their first child together.
When announcing her pregnancy on air in May 2025, Christie shared an emotional message to other families going through IVF. 'It's been four years in the making … I am pregnant. We are ecstatic, we are safe, and we're in the second trimester already. I just want you to know that if you are going through IVF, I have been where you are. I know how hard it is. I just want you to know that it can happen. When you least expect it, your life can change.'
In a touching tribute to a baby they lost, she added, 'After the rain comes the rainbow. After losing a baby, two back-to-back chemical pregnancies, our miracle is finally here. And now, somehow, it makes sense. The final piece of our puzzle. To my fellow IVF warriors – I see you. I am you. If you're still waiting, still aching, still hoping – please don't give up. Your miracle might just be around the corner, your story is still unfolding and we never know what the next chapter holds.'
In April 2024, Christie told New Idea magazine that losing their first baby 'ripped our hearts out'. They had bought a Christmas decoration for the child they nicknamed 'Sunflower', which read, 'Mummy and Daddy can't wait to meet you in 2024'. She described being 'hopeful but realistic' about another pregnancy.
Justin also shared an emotional message on social media when announcing the pregnancy: 'We're finally in the "safe zone", and I still can't quite believe I get to say those words. We've walked through more heartbreak than we ever imagined – endless appointments, IVF rounds that didn't work, moments we felt completely broken, and nights when we clung to each other and tried to stay strong when it all felt hopeless. But through it all, we never stopped believing in this dream. There's a tiny heartbeat growing stronger each day, and so is our love and excitement.'
Now based in Hobart, Christie first rose to fame playing 'twins' Kirsty and Laura on Home and Away. After leaving the soap in 2005, she returned in 2008 before making a final exit in October 2009. In 2022, she launched the Dan and Christie Show on the Hit Network with co-host Dan Taylor.
