FOUNDATION FOR HEALTH YOUR DONOR NEWSLETTER EDITION 1 2018 IMAGINING A HEALTHIER FUTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY A MESSAGE TO YOU from Chief Executive Andrew Stripp elcome to Harvey, and the success of the Christmas Appeal on the first the opposite page. WFoundation for Health newsletter In this edition we also celebrate the stories of some of 2018. In this edition inspiring women. Mariam Hussaini waited nine we celebrate the long years to become a mother. When she found outcomes of your out she was pregnant with quadruplets it was both generous donations, a challenging and exciting time for her and her and provide an husband. Alongside Mariam, obstetrician Kirsten update on the impact Palmer and cancer survivor Effie Atkins share their they have in the lives of Monash Health staff, patients, own stories of strength and resilience. and their families. In the first few months of the year over $700,000 In 2017 the Imagination Campaign was launched, has already been raised through our three main we welcomed the first patients to the new wards in fundraising events including; the Dandelion Wishes Monash Children’s Hospital, and you helped us raise Gala, Walk for Monash Children’s Hospital and 65km more funds than ever before for Monash Health. for Cystic Fibrosis events. This April we celebrated the Monash Children’s Hospital first birthday. You can continue to support With your ongoing commitment we will continue the future of healthcare for sick children by visiting to pursue excellence in healthcare, giving our imaginationappeal.org. community the best chance at a healthy future. Thank you for your support. We are grateful that people like you, are willing to support us in the care we provide people like Harvey. We shared Harvey’s story with you as part of the 2017 Andrew Stripp Christmas Appeal. You can read the latest update on Chief Executive, Monash Health The Monash Health Foundation team COVER CONTACT US Image: Mariam and Mohammed with one of their four Monash Health Foundation sons, Monash Newborn Locked Bag 29, Clayton South VIC 3169 Tel: 03 9594 2700 EDITOR Lauren Allnutt - Foundation Communications Coordinator We respect your privacy and do not share your [email protected] personal information. If you wish to change the way we communicate with you, please contact us. 2 FOUNDATION FOR HEALTH NEWSLETTER 2018 YOU DID IT! Thousands of stars decorate our hospitals obody wants to be in hospital, especially at Christmas Appeal donations support Christmas, but your beautiful imagination patients like Harvey Nstars that decorated the Christmas trees in our hospitals, lit up the faces of Monash Health patients, staff and visitors alike. The Monash Children’s Hospital tree certainly brought a smile to 4 year old Harvey. We shared Harvey’s cancer journey in the 2017 Christmas Appeal letter. After completing 12 months of chemotherapy treatment Harvey spent Christmas at home with his two brothers. Harvey also celebrated his fourth birthday in January with a fire brigade birthday cake. Thank you for helping thousands of patients like Harvey’s mum Kate said; “it was a perfect day Harvey, both young and old, through the Monash watching Harvey enjoying his birthday like other kids Health Christmas Appeal. We have some exciting plans his age do. Seeing the joy on his face when his friends for an even bigger 2018 Christmas Appeal and look sang him happy birthday is a precious memory for forward to sharing them with you later in the year. us all.” ZANDER CELEBRATES 1 YEAR At 2018 Walk for Monash Children’s Hospital verybody had their own reasons for supporting Zander walked the 1 kilometre track around Jells Park the 2018 Walk for Monash Children’s Hospital and was one of over 1,900 participants who helped Eheld on Sunday March 4 at Jells Park. For 10 year raise over $180,000 for Monash Children’s Hospital. old Zander, the date marked exactly one year since Since 2013 the Walk has raised over $600,000 for his life was turned upside down. thousands of children like Zander. Thank you to everyone who participated in this years’ event, it’s Zander was playing with his toys when he started always a day loved by all involved, full of celebration complaining of pain in his head. At first his mother and gratitude. Juanita thought he must have knocked his head, but she soon realised it was a lot more serious. Zander was rushed in an ambulance to Monash Children’s Hospital where he had an MRI scan. His condition was soon stabilised but he had suffered a stroke, leaving him unable to move the right side of his body. With the help of his therapists Zander had to learn to walk and talk again. “This past year has by far has been the most heartbreaking year for all of us…things that we take for granted are hard won for Zander. I have watched him walk to class at school, and pat his dog with his 10 year old stroke survivor right hand. I am so proud of him,” said Juanita at the Zander and family Walk event. 3 Proud parents of four, Mohammed and Mariam with Monash Health Team CAN YOU IMAGINE... Being a parent to quadruplets?! hen Mohammed Hussaini moved from On Wednesday 17 January, there were 28 Afghanistan to Australia in 2005 he sought staff, consisting of obstetricians, anaesthetists, Wa safer future, but left behind a culture neonatologists, midwives, nurses and technicians, in close to his heart. the operating theatre to safely delivered Mariam’s four little boys. Mohammed worked on a farm in country South Australia for the next seven years, saving for the future “At that point, the only thing that mattered in he dreamed of. In 2009 he was re-united with the the world was that my sons were healthy,” said love of his life from Afghanistan, Mariam, and they Mohammed. married. You may have seen the Channel Nine news coverage After trying for almost nine long years, the couple of Mariam’s story in January this year. We recently were desperate to become parents. With some visited Mariam and Mohammed in the Monash medical help, Mariam finally fell pregnant in Newborn ward before they went home with their mid-2017. Amazingly their first exciting baby scan new family of six. revealed that Mariam was pregnant with not just one, but four babies! Mohammed was proud to introduce us to his healthy sons; Rayan, Elyas, Shayan and Almas. At the time “It was scary to be honest. The doctors told us it can of our visit the precious babies (who had as much be very risky to have four babies,” said Mohammed. as doubled in weight since their birth) and Mariam, Over the next 30 weeks it took a dedicated team of were learning to breast feed with the patient health professionals, across our Monash Women’s and guidance of their midwife. The babies had been tube Newborn departments, to care for Mariam and her fed for the first six weeks of their life. four babies. We look forward to watching the boys prosper and “Quadruplets always deliver preterm and thus the feel grateful to have played a part in their journey to babies face significant challenges when born. The a healthy and happy future. Congratulations Mariam goal is to try and get the pregnancy beyond 24 weeks, and Mohammed! when the babies can survive outside the womb,” said Mariam’s obstetrician Kirsten Palmer. To support Monash Women’s please visit monashhealthfoundation.com.au/event/ monashwomens or call (03) 9594 2700 4 FOUNDATION FOR HEALTH NEWSLETTER 2018 Mariam’s proud STAFF SPOTLIGHT obstetrician, Kirsten Palmer Kirsten helps deliver quadruplets irsten Palmer has completed over a decade hours in the evening. of study to be where she is today. She is an Once they are in bed I Kobstetrician for Monash Women’s at Monash continue my studies,” Medical Centre and has a PhD in in pre-eclampsia, said Kirsten. which is a common complication of pregnancy. Currently Kirsten is Her working career is dedicated to helping women conducting clinical with the most complicated of pregnancies, including trials to treat babies Mariam Hussaini, guiding them as safely as possible, whilst they are still in through their journey to motherhood. the womb. “It is a rewarding area to work in, but it can also be “We are in the process of trialling new therapies that very sad for some families. Soon-to-be parents are could improve outcomes for the smallest babies. By anxious and never want to hear that there may be treating them in the womb we could maximise their a health issue with their precious baby. It is a very chance of a long and healthy future. vulnerable time in their lives. I feel privileged to play a part in achieving the most positive outcome I imagine a day when we can offer a better outcome possible,” said Kirsten. for women suffering complicated pregnancies for both themselves and their babies.” After what is usually a 10 hour day for Kirsten she goes home to continue studying and look after To support Kirsten and the important work her own children; three-year-old Joselyn, and of Monash Women’s, please donate to the six-year-old Elliot. Monash Women’s Appeal. “I love my job but I need to leave work at the door so I can be a mum and enjoy my kids company for a few Monash Women's Appeal 2018 Supporting at risk mums and their babies monashhealthfoundation.com.au/event/monashwomens AUSTRALIAN FIRST The Victorian Heart Hospital will save lives orldwide there are many specialised heart Whospitals in major cities, but none in Australia.