Within five days of suffering terrible symptoms Lisa D’Monte was rushed to The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) by ambulance. Throughout this time, three-year-old Lisa had stopped talking, her temperature has hit 40C and she couldn’t bear being touched anywhere.

As soon as doctors from the RCH listened to Lisa’s chest they put her on life support. They found that she was reacting to Group A Streptococcal bacteria, which can be potentially lethal if it gets into the bloodstream. “As soon as the doctor put the stethoscope to Lisa’s chest, she rushed out and in 10 seconds I had five doctors fly into the room,” said Lisa’s mother Asha.

For the next month Lisa fought for her life in ICU. “When they got the lungs working, the kidneys were failing; they focused their attention on the kidneys, and her lungs were failing,” said Asha.

The intensive care physicians saved Lisa’s life but Lisa still had a lot of work to do to get back to living life like a normal three-year-old. Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists and speech therapists worked hard to restore her.

First, after seven weeks, her speech returned. Now, two months on, Lisa is back as home in Sunbury and preparing for kindergarten. “She’s a good fighter, my little one, physically and mentally. I tell everybody she is my miracle baby,” Asha said.

Donate to The Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal at goodfridayappeal.com.au or phone 9292 1166.