How welcome distractions provided moments of happiness in hospital
Trusting a mother’s instinct
Amelia knew the reoccurring chest infections that her son, Lachy, was experiencing were a sign something wasn’t right with her usually smiling happy boy. Trusting her instincts as a mother, she took Lachy to appointment after appointment, where he was diagnosed with bronchiectasis – a condition in which the airways in the lungs are damaged, causing them to become permanently widened – and tracheobronchomalacia – a condition caused by a weak airway that collapses when the person breathes.
Support through a long hospital stay
Lachy required a peripherally inserted central catheter line and airway clearance. It was during this long stay at Queensland Children’s Hospital that Amelia and Lachy met Children’s Hospital Foundation. One of our team gave Amelia an inpatient orientation, providing her with helpful information about the programs available to support her and keep Lachlan entertained during their stay. Lachy is part of our Bravery Beads program and receives beads to recognise procedures and milestones along his healthcare journey.
The Children’s Hospital Foundation is a dedicated team who makes each and every hospital experience a positive one. They bring light to what can often be some of the darkest times for both the child and the parent. Being available, approachable and open during those times has been a life-saver to both myself, my family and most importantly, Lachy.” – Amelia, Lachlan’s mum
Igniting their imaginations
Entertaining kids through long stays in hospital is never easy, but with our Book Bunker program, kids can sit and read their favourite story, or have a story read to them at their bedside, by one of our volunteers. With a selection of over 5,000 books, kids can get lost in stories of dragons in space, aliens out at sea or rabbits hanging at the beach.
In the words of Amelia, Lachy has been a little trooper, taking every hospital appointment, admission, medicine and therapy in his stride. At only four, Lachy’s medical journey is ongoing but he’s hitting more milestones each and every day, such as being able to walk for thirty minutes without needing a breathing break.
The difference that shapes their world
Through supporting the Children’s Hospital Foundation, you can improve childhoods and ensure all children and young people have access to treatment - sooner.
