Royal Children’s Hospital first to offer state-of-the-art intraoperative MRI

The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) will be the first paediatric hospital in Australia to offer intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), changing the face of neurosurgery and cardiac procedures for Australian children. The RCH Foundation announced at its annual dinner last night it would purchase the leading edge IMRIScardio intraoperative MRI system at a cost of … Continued

RCH wins three major healthcare awards

The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) has been recognised for its outstanding achievement in providing healthcare to children in Victoria and Australia. Last night (6/10/10) at the 2010 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards, the RCH was a finalist in five awards, and won three, including both of the Premier’s Excellence Awards. RCH Chief Executive, Christine Kilpatrick, said … Continued

Audrey can sleep easily

Audrey Truong always has a huge smile on her face when she is awake. And when she’s sleeping, she looks at peace. But Audrey’s parents knew something was wrong. Audrey was failing to put on weight or grow taller. Her parents took her to the Royal Children’s Hospital where doctors found her airways were blocked, causing her … Continued

Staying connected with an orb

The Royal Children’s Hospital has been experimenting with a novel program. It’s helping sick kids stay in touch with their classmates using a colourful orb. Ten-year-old Shaunna Miller was admitted to hospital with septicaemia, pneumonia and diabetes, and was placed in an induced coma to help with her recovery. Once out of the worst of … Continued

Driveways and children don’t mix

Little Alexandra Weeks is a very lucky girl.  She got the fright of her life when her family’s car rolled over her head in the home driveway last week. Alexandra screamed as the weight of the car fractured her skull in two places.  Her carotid artery was also badly damaged, putting her at a high risk … Continued

Child swallows cross

A church pastor’s daughter, Jayde Saliba, needed urgent medical help when she inhaled a cross pendant almost two years ago. The cross was lodged in her throat which doctors removed under general anaesthetic. Now aged 4, Jayde was one of 282 children under five admitted to the Royal Children’s Hospital since 2005 after inhaling or ingesting … Continued

Siblings share rare blood disease

Brother and sister Jacob and Alexandra Khodr both have sickle cell anaemia – a rare, life-threatening blood disease. They visit The Royal Children’s Hospital every month for blood transfusions to keep the condition under control. Read their story at Herald Sun Online here: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/caring-for-each-other-in-blood-disease-battle/story-e6frf7kx-1225899744415 You can help children like Jacob and Alexandra by donating blood … Continued

RCH patients farewell their cranes

After more than two years of constructing the new Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) piece-by-piece, the last of the nine cranes – each named after an RCH patient – is now being dismantled. But while the cranes may no longer feature on the construction site landscape, the patients’ efforts in helping creating our new hospital will … Continued

Vaccine for newborns to help combat deadly rotavirus

Australian researchers have begun clinical trials of a new vaccine to protect newborn infants against rotavirus, a life-threatening diarrhoeal disease that kills half a million children worldwide each year. The RV3 vaccine, developed by the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (MCRI), was launched today and is the first in the world specifically developed for newborns. Babies … Continued

Twins’ surgical team receives ANZAC of the Year award

The team of Royal Children’s Hospital surgeons who separated conjoined twins Trishna and Krishna last year have today been bestowed an incredible honour-an RSL ANZAC of the Year award. The award recognises the achievements of Australians who have given service to their fellow Australians and to the community in a positive, selfless and compassionate manner. … Continued