When five-year-old Chloe couldn’t shake what appeared to be gastro, her parents took her to their local emergency department. Chloe was checked by the doctor and diagnosed with an ear infection, but suddenly her condition began to deteriorate. She couldn’t open her eyes and became unresponsive.
Chloe was immediately placed in an induced coma and intubated overnight while her anxious parents, Matt and Katie, waited for her to be transferred to Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick. When Chloe arrived at the Hospital she was taken straight for a CT scan. The ear infection had spread to her inner ear and into her brain. It had caused pressure and swelling that was so severe she needed urgent surgery to remove the entire left side of her skull cap. Matt and Katie were told to prepare for the worst.
“Being told that you may lose a child is absolutely gut-wrenching, you can’t even contemplate it” says Matt. “That first night was the longest of our lives, but we knew there was no better place for our little girl.” Distraught at the thought of losing Chloe, they spent the next 14 days by her side in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). After an agonising wait, the expert ICU team finally managed to wake her from her coma. Eventually, she started to breathe on her own and was moved to the Neurology ward.
Slowly Chloe made progress, and the swelling in her brain reduced enough for the missing piece of her skull to be replaced. There was a strong chance Chloe could have suffered complete hearing and vision loss, but she defied all the odds. Matt watched in amazement one day as Chloe chatted with her mum on the phone! Dedicated Physiotherapists worked with Chloe every day and eventually she could sit upright by herself, and with assistance, even walk. Soon Chloe’s progress gained more momentum as the Hospital’s Occupational Therapists helped her to get ready to return to school.
After five long months in Hospital, Matt and Katie were finally able to take Chloe home. They are thrilled to have their daughter back with them again. “We’re over the moon with how Chloe has recovered, and we have nothing but praise for the Hospital,” says Katie. “We were always kept informed and knew Chloe had everything she needed, especially the time and attention of the wonderful staff.” Chloe was treated by many different teams across the Hospital from the ICU and Neurology, to Rehab2Kids. They all worked together to ensure Chloe got the very best possible outcome. “Chloe recovered amazingly, and we simply don’t know how to thank everyone who was involved in her care.”
We at Ricky Richards will be working hard as a team to help raise funds in support of the children being cared for at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick. On this day Ricky Richards will donate a percentage of daily sales to the hospital.
For 18 years Ricky Richards have worked together with our customers to raise substantial funds which have helped sick children such as Chloe (pictured here).
Rickys goal is to make every Christmas a happier and more peaceful time for children like Chloe and their families.