Make a difference

The Bendigo Health Christmas Appeal is hoping to fund a mini-gym to help young patients in their rehabilitation.

Photography by Kate Monotti

While decorations are being hung and family gatherings planned, a dedicated team of Bendigo Health staff are working tirelessly this festive season to raise funds that will put smiles on the faces of the youngest patients and their families. The Bendigo Health Foundation recently launched its annual Christmas Appeal, with this year’s aim to fit out a new paediatric hydrotherapy pool and buy child-sized gym equipment. When we talk about rehabilitation, we often picture sports stars recovering from injury or adults overcoming trauma sustained through unfortunate accidents. This year’s fundraising goal is to help pint-sized patients who are quietly fighting enormous physical battles. More than 100 children are treated by Bendigo Health’s rehabilitation services at any one time and two-thirds of the children receiving rehabilitation have cerebral palsy, a permanent condition with no known cure. Paediatric rehabilitation is designed to improve the abilities of children and young people following major injury, illness or medical procedures and treatment. Like some medical interventions, the necessary equipment is not always available nearby. As Bendigo Health Foundation manager Rachel Mason says, purchasing equipment specifically tailored for young people’s rehabilitation will help keep children closer to home and their loved ones. “Bendigo Health’s annual Christmas Appeal this year aims to expand support for the redevelopment of the paediatric rehabilitation outpatient clinics, including a specific paediatric fitout of the new hydrotherapy pool and the purchase of purpose-built, child-sized gym equipment, to create a mini-gym,” Rachel says. Teale Hammond is one of the young patients who will directly benefit from the purchase. The 12-year-old’s rehabilitation started following seven months of cancer treatment.

Teale was diagnosed with bone cancer following a fall and graze to his right leg in late 2019. Initially, mum Rebecca didn’t think anything of the slight injury until she noticed a hard lump in the same area days later. Rebecca followed her instincts to see their local GP immediately, while reassuring Teale that it was surely nothing of concern. The next seven months saw the family separated as Teale underwent treatment at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital, while his parents juggled his appointments and provided care and a sense of normality for his three siblings who remained at home in Bendigo. For Rebecca and the family, it was a difficult time. “We had to spend a lot of time apart – it affected us all a lot,” she says. Having rehabilitation locally was imperative to the family, allowing them to be together and for Teale to remain connected with his siblings while he focused on his recovery and learned to undertake regular activities again. The time apart was particularly tough for Teale’s 10-yearold brother, who perhaps understood the seriousness of the situation and desperately needed his brother to be back home so they could do “normal” things together. Teale worked with rehabilitation therapists and did hydrotherapy sessions with the goal of getting back on his bike, however his key motivator was to be able to wrestle with his siblings again. Rebecca describes the Bendigo Health therapists who supported Teale in his recovery as wonderful, calm and helpful. “It is amazing what he has achieved,” Rebecca says. “Within even a couple of months, we saw his progression and he made leaps and bounds. We are so grateful to them and especially that we didn’t need to pay for rehabilitation as money was already tight.” In July last year, Teale received confirmation that his treatment had been successful. “We got the all-clear. It will continually be with us, but for now we are in a good place,” Rebecca says.

Mackenzie Fox is another young patient whose life will be improved by the generosity of others. It has been a difficult time for the Fox family since receiving a cerebral palsy diagnosis for their youngest child. Now a gorgeous 21-month-old, Mackenzie has been undergoing rehabilitation therapies since she was just three months of age. Her regular rehabilitation sessions will continue her entire life. Mackenzie represents the two-thirds of patients treated by Bendigo Health’s rehabilitation services who have cerebral palsy. Mother Melita says Mackenzie has come “leaps and bounds” thanks to her rehabilitation. “Our physiotherapist, Suzie, is all about the good and the bad; she really celebrates the milestones with us,” Melita says. “Recently, Mackenzie learned to point out things and Suzie really made a big deal about this seemingly small, but really important achievement. “Nothing can prepare you for your newborn baby being airlifted to Melbourne – she experienced seizures for three days. We felt blindsided more than anything.” You can support kids like Teale and Mackenzie in their rehabilitation and recovery by donating to the Bendigo Health Christmas Appeal. Any contribution helps enormously, and can be made via a donation or by buying an e-Card for a loved one at www.bendigohealth.org.au/christmas