Taking her four month old daughter Audrey to the doctor for a routine newborn appointment, Jacqueline Laurent never imagined she leave with a diagnosis of a life threatening hole in the heart. Known as ventricular septal defect, Audrey’s condition means a hole remains in the barrier between the left and right ventricles causing too much … Continued
Not yet two years old and Jack Gallacher has already conquered battles many will never have to face. Jack was born with the rare condition of having only a few centimeters of oesophagus. Unable to feed, a tiny tube was inserted into his stomach soon after birth. Within three months, doctors at The Royal Children’s … Continued
Charlize Napiza was just two days old when she stopped feeding and began to vomit green bile. Her parents rushed her to The Royal Children’s Hospital emergency department where an X-ray revealed that her intestines were twisted the wrong way in her body. Surgery helped correct the condition, and she is still being cared for … Continued
Late last year Benalla toddler Ryder Humphries was paralysed by a seizure as he slept. When his mother found him motionless in his bed, she took him the local hospital for tests, then he was transferred to The Royal Children’s Hospital. There surgeons removed a rare brain tumour the size of a golf ball, and … Continued
It’s not uncommon to see 10-year-olds climbing trees like monkeys. But from now on, Caysie Clark will be following in the footsteps of the Easter Bunny and sticking to the ground. Last month Caysie received a horrible scare when she fell from a tree. The result was a fractured skull, fractured spine, collapsed lung, torn … Continued
For Isla Hallam, thumb sucking is a simple comfort in a whirlwind of agressive and repetitive hospital treatments for her leukaemia. The almost-two-year-old has had her fifth hospital admission in three months. Despite being an emotional rollercoaster for Isla and her family, she always manages a smile for the RCH staff who pass her cot. … Continued
As in the case of a mysterious ghostly figure, it took a photograph to reveal what had been haunting Bailey for more than a year. Bailey had retinoblastoma. In the family photo, his left eye looked white – a tell-tale sign that light was bouncing off an unsual surface. RCH opthalmologists confirmed this surface was a deadly tumour. Left with … Continued
Both Adam and his father Ivan know what it’s like to spend long days at the RCH. Adam, one year old, is receiving his seventh round of chemotherapy for neuroblastoma, while his father is an electrician working on the new RCH construction site next door. While even the harshest chemicals can’t wipe the grin off … Continued
Melburnians will gain a special insight into the impact of the RCH on their city thanks to the launch of the Good Friday Appeal Yarra Tram. The tram features photos of RCH patients past and present, ranging in age from a few weeks to 70 years. The oldest face to decorate the tram is June Brayley, who received treatment for … Continued
Angelic Jade Chumbley’s halo is made of bandages, wires and electrodes. Ever since the 10-week-old began having mystery seizures two weeks ago, RCH neurologists have been closely monitoring her brain activity on an EEG machine. So far, the cause of the seizures remains unknown. Jade’s parents are on 24-hour watch at their baby’s bedside and are ready to … Continued
