The difference Rowan deserves

How world-class care and treatment made a life saving difference.

Recovering in ICU

In November 2020, at just seven years old, Rowan was involved in a serious motorbike accident that nearly cost him his life. He suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and needed to be operated on immediately to remove the whole right side of his skull to stop his brain from bleeding.

While in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), the pressure from Rowan’s brain swelling blocked the blood supply to his occipital lobe, causing a stroke that robbed him of his eyesight completely. His parents, Jill and John were, in their own words, just hanging on. Absolutely heartbroken and too scared to ask any questions, they thought they were going to lose their son.

Thriving after brain surgery

The first few weeks after the accident were an incredibly challenging time for the whole family, with Rowan in the fight of his life. The first breakthrough came when he woke from his coma and was able to click his fingers in the unique way he’d always done – a sign to Jill and John that their boy was slowly coming back to them. It wasn’t until late December 2020 that Jill and John came to the realisation that Rowan had lost his eyesight, after he asked them to play something on the TV, he said “I think I’m blind mum”.

In the months that followed, he showed immense bravery going through a series of serious medical procedures and embracing the wide range of therapy support at the Queensland Children’s Hospital. He hung out in Kidzone, took part in the Bravery Beads program (which always put a smile on his face) and loved having games brought to his bedside when he couldn’t leave his hospital room.

Thanks to our supporters, the Children’s Hospital Foundation has funded a high-density (HD) electroencephalography (EEG) machine at the Children’s Centre for Health Research. This state-of-the-art machine helps give kids like Rowan a better treatment experience. It allows kids to be awake during examinations – giving clinicians a more comprehensive understanding of their brain patterns during recovery.

Back home with family

While much has changed in Rowan’s life, he remains positive and upbeat, never feeling down about his condition or what he’s been through. His progress, attitude and strength continue to amaze everyone he meets, and he has set himself some big and bold ambitions for where he wants to go in life. He has started to learn Braille, loves to run and has already achieved his B1 classification for competing in blind sport with the aim of taking part in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. As it says on the Instagram page where he documents his incredible story, this is a boy that is ‘busy being happy’.