Throughout summer the WCH Foundation ‘Laklinyeri’ Beach House has been fully booked, with a family holidaying at the extraordinary home each week.

The Booby family welcomed the start of the new decade at the Beach House with their New Year’s Eve celebrations including a movie at ‘Victa Cinemas’ followed by the local fireworks display.

Gemma and Terry’s youngest son Liam, 11, is cared for by the Hospital’s Palliative Care Service. At age two, Liam was diagnosed with LMNA Gene Mutation de Novo Congenital Muscular Dystrophy and Floppy Head Syndrome. Due to the condition, Liam is in a wheelchair and is totally dependent on his parents.

Gemma has shared heart-warming words on what the holiday at the Beach House meant to her family.

What a wonderful place you have created. The main thing is that we would never have been able to stay in such a grand place and to be here in summer is a blessing.

There are so many people I would love to thank for making this dream house come true.

As there is no way I could thank them all personally could you please tell them that our stay has refreshed us, revitalised us and allowed Liam to get around a home without any worry of steps or smaller doorways that his wheelchair might not go through.

He has loved zooming up and down the hall outside his bedroom doing skids. Liam keeps telling everyone that he isn’t leaving, and he is staying here forever. Not sure how the next family will feel about that!

Thank you also for the photoshoot, another beautiful gift that I can treasure and reminds us of this beautiful house.

Liam and his family loved their time at the Beach House.

Highlights of the Booby family’s stay included a visit to Urimbirra Wildlife Park and inviting 20 family members over for a barbecue on the weekend, a gathering that would not have been possible if they weren’t holidaying at the Beach House.

Gemma also loved that her eldest son Declan could have a special time away because of the design of the family centred home.

She added that both boys loved the big television and Declan spent a lot of time riding the bikes and visiting the little beach across from the home.

To help fund families’ stays at the Beach House click here

“Eloise is doing fantastic, she is crawling all over the place and is getting into mischief like all toddlers do,” Nicole Fleming says of her adorable daughter.

Nicole and her husband Shannon shared the story of their twin daughters Eloise and Isla for the WCH Foundation’s 2019 Christmas Appeal to raise money to support the greatest care for the Hospital’s tiniest babies.

Eloise and Isla were born at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital at just 29 weeks holding one another’s hand. Eloise weighed 480 grams and was so tiny she fit into the palm of her dad’s hand.

At just four weeks of age, the cardiologist advised that Isla’s heart required surgery. Devastatingly, the morning after the surgery Isla passed away.

Eloise spent almost three months in the Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU). She was able to go home for the first time in November 2018.

On the eve of turning 18-months-old, Nicole said the fighting spirit Eloise showed throughout the pregnancy and in NICU and SCBU is still very much evident.

“She is a little bit behind in her growth and I think she will always be small for her age, but she makes up for it in her own ways! Her size doesn’t set her back – she is still strong and knows what she wants. She will try a thousand times to get where she wants to crawl. She never gives up. You can see her fighting spirit,” Nicole said.

“She is standing on her own for a few seconds now and is definitely on her way to walking. At home I have had to take everything off the ground that she might get her hands into.

The Fleming family, Shannon, Ciara, Nicole, Eloise, Amelia and Eamon.

“Our other children Amelia, Eamon and Ciara are also wonderful at looking out for her and it’s lovely to see them all starting to play together and see their relationships building.

“Amelia is definitely the mother-hen, she dotes on Eloise so much.

“Eloise is starting to do a little bit of chattering – nothing that we can comprehend yet, but you can see that she is starting to form her sounds together to make words. She is also understanding what we are saying a lot more, which is great to see.”

The Flemings remember Isla every day.

Every day the Fleming family remembers Isla.

“On the first Mother’s Day after Isla’s passing, the kids and Shannon got together and made a sign called ‘Isla’s patch’. It’s placed just past the gates to our property which we call ‘our little piece of heaven’.

“While Isla never came home, we feel she is here with us.”

During Nicole’s pregnancy with Isla and Eloise she would spot koalas on her way to medical appointments. Sighting koalas quickly became a sign of hope for Nicole.

“The family is always on the lookout for koalas now. The kids always come up to me and say ‘there’s a koala, it’s Isla coming to say hello’.”

The Flemings thank everyone for their support of the Christmas Appeal.

“All of the donations received, and words of encouragement have been so touching,” Nicole said.

“We are so grateful for all of the support and the awareness of what the Women’s and Children’s Hospital does, not just for us but for so many families who rely on it.

“I have friends in the Hospital now who are struggling with their little one. Just to know there are people out there supporting the great work that everyone does in that great hospital is amazing.”

The Flemings, who are passionate and wonderful friends of the WCH Foundation, will host a fundraising dinner ‘Collaboration for a Cause’ at Lot 100 on June 20. The first Collaboration for a Cause was organised last year with close to $60,000 raised for NICU.

Stay tuned for more information on the fabulous event!

Amazing records were broken at the Golden Angels fourth High Tea on Sunday 10 November 2019.

The first record to fall was the attendance figure with close to 1000 people at the event. The second and most exciting was the amount raised with the final total a staggering $186,314.61.

The funds will establish the Golden Angels Palliative Care Support Fund to help children and their families being cared for by the Hospital’s palliative care service.

The Golden Angels raised an outstanding $186.314.61 at their High Tea.

“The fund is about helping children in palliative care and their parents in all aspects of their life including funeral costs, equipment for home use to enable the child to remain at home longer, transportation assistance so that a parent can travel with the sick child,” Vicki Antoniou, Founder of the Golden Angels, said.

“Having a child in palliative care and being in a tough financial situation is a position myself and the Golden Angels committee could not imagine being in. Even though we are not with the child and their family, it feels as though we are shining a light at a very dark time in their lives.”

The 2019 High Tea included singing performances by The Voice’s Henry Olongo and international singer Jyoti Singh, a fashion parade by Carla Zampatti, while the fundraising came through ticket sales, donations, sponsorship, the wine wall, a travel raffle, and a silent auction comprising close to 200 items. Commonwealth Bank, Format Homes and Pure Vision Wines were amongst the long-time major sponsors.

“People are so generous when it comes to supporting sick children and their families, whether it was by their attendance at the High Tea where we had over 53 corporate tables, sponsorship, donating wine for the wine wall, items for the silent auction and two international air fares from King William Travel. Everyone wanted to support this event so much,” Vicki said.

“The High Tea is not just an event about raising money, but also educating people about the palliative care service at Adelaide’s Women’s and Children’s Hospital and the many heartfelt stories from the families. This year Sara Fleming from the Hospital, the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO Jane Scotcher, and Marty and Michelle Roberts, whose son Sam was cared for by the palliative care service all spoke.”

Guests at the Golden Angels’ High Tea including Michelle Roberts, WCH Foundation CEO Jane Scotcher and WCH Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner Sara Fleming.

Since the first High Tea in 2014 which saw 380 people attend, the event has continued to grow and Vicki credits the Golden Angels Committee for making it happen.

“A lot of hard work goes into this event. Our Committee sacrifice time from their work and families to make it the success it is today. Without these wonderful women, the High Tea would not be possible. It’s important that these amazing women be acknowledged and recognised for their amazing work.

“The Golden Angels Committee consists of Jo Chapley, Angela Gondzioulis, Sylvia Hiristo, Vas Koumoulas, Betty Livaditis, Zoi Papafilopoulos, Sia Patsouris, Tina Psaromatis, Patty Sardelis, Mary Skandalis, Stella Tsagouris, Peggy Veloudos and myself.”

Whilst learning about students’ experiences at the Hospital School, Cabra Year 10 Fashion Design class was given the brief to create a textile design to be printed and sewn into scarves.

These scarves are now on display in a pop-up exhibition on Level 1, Zone C in the corridor opposite the Sacred Space until the end of January 2020. The exhibition was made possible by the support of the WCH Foundation’s Arts in Health project.

Cabra student Amelia with the scarf she designed on show in the WCH.

Sally Lawrey, Art + Design teacher at Cabra Dominican College has shared the process of creating the scarves and what her students learnt throughout the project.

“A collaboration such as this presents obvious challenges. Students embraced the task and relished the opportunity to connect with a group outside of their own community. The Cabra Year 10 Fashion Design class were given the brief to create a textile design to be printed and sewn into scarves. Taking inspiration from their school song they began working around the words “The good, the beautiful and the true”.

During the design process, Hospital School Principal, Matthew McCurry, visited Cabra to provide further insight into the Hospital School environment and circumstances of some of their students. Cabra students were humbled to hear stories of who might attend a hospital school, for how long, in what capacity, and also how these students integrate back into mainstream schooling following their hospital stay.

Students reflected on their own schooling and how they might feel if that experience had been different. They considered being away from their friends for extended periods of time, learning with students of various ages, or simply not being in a traditional classroom, yet it was the lost connection to their community they felt would be most difficult.

Cabra students wrote to the Hospital School with introductions and discussion about what “The good, the beautiful and the true”, meant to them. The responding letters identified the many similarities in thinking between the groups as they focused on themes that spoke to them all.

The Good – relationships with family and friends, the importance of these strong and reliable bonds. Education and the joy of learning.

The Beautiful – inner-beauty, kindness, empathy, understanding. A smile. Nature and the both calming and energising effects of being in the natural environment.

The True – being present and mindful. Accepting and respecting each and every individual.  Authentic experiences.

Cabra students took these concepts and visually interpreted them through drawing and painting to develop a series of images ready for printing. The original images were scanned and manipulated to create repeated patterns that were printed in Sydney onto their chosen fabrics. On return the fabrics were cut and sewn into scarves ready for wear.

The final products displayed here, their own objects of beauty, embody the shared ideas of the students involved. They represent a coming together and an acknowledgement of the value in reaching out and building new relationships. The scarves will stay with the WCH School students as a tactile reminder of their connection to the wider school community.

It has been a wonderfully rewarding experience to work with the Hospital School and Arts in Health, Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation and a one that Cabra College hopes to repeat.”

To learn more about the gallery spaces in the Hospital click here

Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO Jane Scotcher shares the journey of the WCH Foundation Beach House’s Aboriginal name – Laklinyeri (Lak-in-yeri).

As part of the Beach House project the Foundation wanted to build strong connections with the Ngarrindjeri-Ramindjeri people and their country, and to acknowledge the traditional landowners where the home is located.

As part of this process we believed the inclusion of an Aboriginal name for the home was vital. Victor Harbor local, Jan Potter, introduced us to Ramindjeri man Cedric. We met with Cedric to share the concept of the Beach House – what we were creating and how it would make a difference for the families who stayed at the home.

Ngarrindjeri elder Leonie McCallum and Ramindjeri artist Cedric Varcoe at the opening of the WCH Foundation Laklinyeri Beach House.

As family is at the heart of the Beach House, we wanted a name that would pay tribute to the traditional custodians and depict the essence of what family means to them.

Cedric was committed and took our request to the Ngarrindjeri-Ramindjeri elders for discussion.  The answer was, “Laklinyeri”.

Cedric Varcoe explains the meaning of Laklinyeri.

 “Laklinyeri alludes to many things relating to family; close family and the larger grouping of families related through kinship, stories, songs and dance. The name denotes a sense of belonging to all of the family, your place and interconnections with each other, the land, the place and the life in that place. Laklinyeri encompasses the heart, the mind, the sense of being. Everything continues to be connected through time.”

Laklinyeri is the Aboriginal name of the Beach House.

We feel that Laklinyeri is perfect and a tribute to not only the people who use the home but also to the Ngarrindjeri-Ramindjeri people who have so warmly welcomed us to their land.  From now on the home will officially be known as the WCH Foundation Laklinyeri Beach House.

To learn more about the Beach House click here

For the first time in the Women’s and Children’s Hospital an exhibition of paintings is on show as part of Tarnanthi – an internationally acclaimed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts festival.

Julianne Turner Nungurrayi whose works are included in the Tarnanthi exhibition in the WCH.

The WCH Foundation’s Arts in Health program is excited to be part of Tarnanthi 2019 and to present Karra Wadlu Yaitya Purruna / Bush Shrubs Make You Healthy featuring the work of seven female Aboriginal painters – Audrey Brumby, Bernadine Kemarre Johnson, Josephine Lennon, Nancy Napanardi Martin, Julianne Turner Nungarrayi, Christine Nakamara Brown and Debra McDonald Nangala.

In this vibrant exhibition, the artists share their expertise about native flora and its therapeutic uses through their paintings of bush food and bush medicine stories. Traditional knowledge of the medicinal benefits, application and collection of native plants extends back over 60,000 years.

Artist Julianne Turner Nungurrayi said, “I love bush medicine. Why I love bush foods and medicine is, it is part of our tradition, it heals our spirit and is part of our culture. We still use our own bush medicine. We can find bush medicine even in the city – we use Lyuk Lyuk, found along the Adelaide road sides to boil and soak in the water for antiseptic wash. It is good for scabies, flu, and things like that.”

Karra Wadlu Yaitya Purruna will be exhibited in the Blue Heart Gallery from 18 October 2019 – 27 January 2020. The Blue Heart Gallery is located on the Hospital’s Ground Floor near Allied Health and Hospital School. The exhibition is a collaboration between the Circle of Arts Foundation and WCH Foundation.

Tarnanthi is produced by the Art Gallery of South Australia and this year features the works of 1000 artists with exhibitions shown in the Art Gallery and in close to 30 partner venues, including the WCH.

Debra Nangala, My Country Medicine Leaves

Karra Wadlu Yaitya Purruna special event

To celebrate Karra Wadlu Yaitya Purruna, the WCH Foundation is hosting a panel discussion where artists and health care professionals will discuss the importance of maintaining bush medicine knowledge.

The event will be held on Thursday 14 November 2019 from 11am – 12.30pm in the Queen Victoria Lecture Theatre, Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

For more information, contact Lauren Simeoni, Arts in Health Arts Officer here

When Jordan Lambropoulos walks into the Women’s and Children’s Hospital on her midwifery placement it is an exciting milestone to mark the completion of her first year of university.

However, this isn’t the only milestone Jordan has experienced in the Hospital.

Not only was she born there in 1998, but she also celebrated her 16^th and 18^th birthdays in the Hospital.

At age nine, Jordan was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and spent most of her childhood and teenage years in and out of the Hospital.

At age nine, Jordan was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and spent most of her childhood and teenage years in and out of the Hospital. 

“I would be at the Hospital for a few weeks then I would go home for a month, but I would have regular flare ups. I never achieved a remission longer than three months,” Jordan, who is now 21, said.

Jordan said her optimism was improved by spending time with the Play Therapists.

“When I first started being admitted to the Hospital there was only one Play Therapist but over the years more were employed. Having them come to you and do arts and crafts improved my time in the Hospital. I felt the Play Therapists worked with you on a personal level and having those activities and someone to talk to distracted me from the fact I was in the Hospital and in pain,” she said.

Jordan also has a close connection to the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation, participating in work experience at the Foundation and being involved in the Easter appeals in 2016 and 2017.

Her altruistic side also shined through when she created and implemented the ‘Chronically Beautiful Campaign’ into the Hospital for a period, with the help of the Foundation’s Arts in Health team.

“The Chronically Beautiful Campaign saw make-up artists and hairdressers give mini make-overs, which included painting nails and styling hair, to the patients,” Jordan said.

“I know personally when I was in Hospital I had quite low self-esteem and I think other adolescents would feel the same. Something so simple like having your hair brushed or your nails painted is something that increases your self-esteem and is also good for pain distraction.”

Jordan’s first placement for midwifery is at the WCH.

Jordan’s wish to continue providing care to others is evident in her pursuit of a career in health.

“I have just finished my first year of midwifery. I think the process of pregnancy is incredible and since starting midwifery it is the best thing I have done.

“When I was younger, I always wanted to be a doctor, to help people like me, but when I finished school I didn’t have the passion for it. Going through uni now I have decided I do want to study medicine, so I am going to finish midwifery and work as a midwife and study medicine part-time.”

Jordan is currently working on another project with the WCH Foundation to benefit adolescents in the Hospital. Stay tuned for more information!

Children receiving treatment in the Hospital’s Medical Day Unit (MDU) and Renal Dialysis Unit (RDU) now have support from a Play Therapist for the very first time.

In mid-2019, Jessica joined the Play Therapy team with her position funded by the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation.

When the redeveloped MDU and RDU was unveiled late last year, it was perfect timing for the Foundation to fund a Play Therapist to work in the space and expand the support we provide in the Hospital through our world class Arts in Health program.

The key role of Jessica and the 10 other Play Therapists in the WCH is to use play and creative arts to minimise the anxiety and stress experienced by patients.

As part of the celebrations of Play Therapy Week (October 14-18) Jessica has shared the impact of her work.

“In any one day I could work with 15 -20 patients, from newborns to 18-year-olds,” Jessica said.

“Some of the children in the units are in a chair for up to seven hours receiving treatment, while some have to receive several injections a day. Most of these children come into the Hospital regularly; their treatment plan could see them spend a day in the unit once a fortnight or once a month. A lot of them are going through long-term health struggles.

“For many children there is a lot of fear about being in Hospital, because of the treatment, having operations and the unfamiliarity of the adults treating them. It is important that our Hospital environment is child-centered and there are activities to keep their spirits up. We know children need play and through play I help to alleviate their stress and fear.”

WCH patient Rushi with MDU and RDU Play Therapist Jessica.

Examples of activities Jessica utilises include sensory play, sand trays filled with dinosaurs or simply placing a teddy bear on the patient’s chair so when they first arrive there is something to hug.

“With older children I provide encouragement, for instance I say, ‘after this treatment, we have something fun planned’, so they are aware there is something to look forward to,” she said.

“My role is very rewarding as you are working with children who are going through really challenging times. I focus on providing distraction, comfort and making the Hospital a fun place,” Jessica said.

Rushi’s mum Aditi said that Play Therapy distracts her son while he receives treatment. 

Four-year-old Rushi is just one patient who has benefited from Play Therapy and working with Jessica.

Rushi attends MDU every 15 days for infusion therapy, after his kidneys failed in October last year.

“In October last year Rushi was in the Women’s and Children’s Hospital for over 20 days,” Rushi’s mum, Aditi said.

“His current treatment means he has to sit in a chair for one and a half hours to receive medication. He is an active boy and hardly wants to sit still and be in one place! But when Jessica organises activities, Rushi is happy to sit and play.

“Along with the activities distracting him, Rushi’s speech has improved from spending time with the Play Therapists as they have taught him words.

“Rushi loves coming to the Hospital now and that makes me happy, as the medical treatment he is getting is so important.”

Since 2011, the Foundation’s Arts in Health program has funded the Play Therapy service at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Our support extends to providing resources, such as arts, crafts, books and toys, for the Play Therapists to use in activities with patients.

Thanks to our generous supporters, the WCH Foundation has expanded the Hospital’s Play Therapy team over the years with 11 Play Therapists now employed and working with hundreds of children every week.

To learn more about Play Therapy click here

A program developed in the United States that teaches children with chronic pain and their families techniques to better manage pain has recently launched at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital with the support of the Foundation.

In late-winter, Assistant Professor Rachael Coakley – the creator of ‘Comfort Ability’, travelled to Adelaide to deliver training to 12 SA Health employees and community clinicians to enable them to implement the one-day program.

Dr Nicki Ferencz, Clinical Coordinator at the WCH Chronic Pain Service and Assistant Professor Rachael Coakley – the creator of ‘Comfort Ability’ (pictured middle) with SA Health employees.

Assistant Professor Coakley is the Director of Clinical Innovation and Outreach in Pain Medicine in the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. She is also an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School.

Six children treated by the Hospital’s Chronic Pain Service and their parents were then the first Australian families to participate in the evidence-based program, which is currently rolled out in 16 hospitals throughout the US.

The Foundation funded the items used in the program’s launch, as well as 70 take-home comfort kits for children who will participate in the program over the next 12 months.

Comfort kits include items that can be used for helping with sleep, relaxation and better managing pain such as a reading light, eye masks, earphones, writing materials and hot and cold packs.

The aim of Comfort Ability

Dr Nicki Ferencz, Clinical Coordinator at the WCH Chronic Pain Service, said the aim of Comfort Ability is to empower children and their families to better manage pain and discomfort.

“The program provides pain education and utilises cognitive-behavioural techniques that teach children how thinking impacts emotions and behaviour and how the relationship between your mind and your body impacts pain,” she said.

“The program does not replace their current medical or psychological treatments, and the strategies learnt are designed to work with their pain management plan. If children and families don’t have a current plan, this program will start the conversation about how they can begin to get the right systems in place.”

What the one-day program involves

The program teaches children practical strategies that can help better manage pain such as breathing techniques, guided imagery and mindful activities. These strategies in conjunction with the items in the comfort kits can be used quickly and easily when they are at home or at school, so they can stay more engaged in the activities they enjoy.

The Foundation also provided aromatherapy oils and pocket diffusers used in the program.

Items in the comfort kit.

“Aromatherapy oils were used in the group to show children that engaging in pleasurable activities can assist them to feel more comfortable and further demonstrated the link between the mind and the body,” Dr Ferencz said.

“Children can easily use the pocket diffusers at school if pain flares as a strategy that can accompany a temporary break from the classroom whilst they practice breathing and mindfulness techniques and before returning to their work.

“Parents were taught skills for reflective listening, for example when their child might say, ‘I can’t do this’ we demonstrated and explored how they might respond so they can feel more empowered and able to assist their child to manage to complete tasks more successfully.

“Parents also learnt and participated in relaxation exercises, to help reduce their own stress so they can better cope with their children’s chronic medical issues.”

The future for Comfort Ability

Dr Ferencz said the Chronic Pain Service is a small service and is incredibly grateful to the Foundation for helping in running the program.

The feedback from families was overwhelmingly positive and the service is planning to run the Comfort Ability program again at the end of November, and in March and May 2020.

While reading the Super Dad nominations, staff at the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation and Charlesworth Nuts were truly moved by the family stories received, and the love and support Super Dads give. They truly are amazing men!

From the 80 nominations received it was very hard to choose just one winner and as a result Charlesworth Nuts generously donated a further two Presidential Hampers valued at $99 each!

We are delighted to announce our three Super Dad winners are Mark Eldershaw, Don Ellis and Steven Osborne!

Don with his daughter Sharon.

Don Ellis nominated by his daughter Sharon Rock

My dad is now 83. What a man, what a dad, what a human. Twenty-two years ago, my son was born at 30 weeks weighing just 1.2 kilograms. At the time I also had a seven-year-old at school, a four-year-old at kindy – and a prem at the Hospital. Life was hectic. This man was working full-time but every day on his way home, he would call in and cradle my little man’s face through the holes in the humidity crib for an hour or more, then visit on the weekend too.

To this day when this little man is unwell consolation to him is having his face cradled, even at 22. The bond formed 22 years ago in the Special Care Baby Unit between a man and his grandson is still so strong. He is, has been and will always be there for me and mine. What a dad, what a man, what a human. Truly blessed.

Mark with his daughter Yvette.

Mark Eldershaw nominated by this daughter Yvette Eldershaw

My dad is my true superhero as in 2015 I was told the hardest words of my life – your child has cancer. My dad stepped up to take care of my three remaining children at home while I stayed in hospital with my son for a long heart aching six months.

Then my dad, my hero, stood by my side as I watched my son slowly be taken by the angels back to heaven. My dad still lives with me to help heal my son’s heart. My dad sacrificed his own life and time to raise his grandchildren through the hardest time of our lives. I never had a hero to growing up, but in 2015 I gained two heroes – my dad and my son Tyrone.

Steven and Adrianna with their family.

Steven Osborne nominated by his wife Adrianna Osborne

I’m so lucky that Steve is the father of our four beautiful children. We are not strangers to WCH. Our first-born Jacob was born there in 2009. Then eight years later our identical twin girls, Sofia and Jasmine, were born at 24 weeks. My husband stayed by my side for the worst three days of our lives. Our beautiful baby Jasmine was very unwell, we were told she had a stage four brain bleed and that it had gone into her ventricles.

We had to make the heart-breaking decision to turn her life support machine off. Not only was this the hardest thing to happen to our family, we had to go home and tell our two other children, Jacob and Summar, that their little sister was not coming home. We spent the next four months at the Hospital with Sofia on her Neonatal Intensive Care Unit journey.

It was very hard to keep on going with normal everyday life. Being at Sofia’s beside for six hours a day, meant trying to get the kids to school, football, ballet, washing, cooking and cleaning was challenging, and I also needed to look after my mental health. But Steve was the Super Dad, he took over all the jobs so I could concentrate on Sofia’s health and bring our baby girl home. Sofia came home and it was the best day. Sofia is two now and she has OT, speech, physio and hospital appointments, as well as three operations this year which makes life challenging and very busy. He is our anchor, I don’t know how I could keep on top of everything if he wasn’t here to keep us going and doing extra special dad duties.

He is an amazing father who would do anything for us. There is always a piece missing in our family, but we are so grateful for what we have.

Click here to read more stories about Super Dads in our community.

Thank you to Charlesworth Nuts for their support of the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation and all the amazing dads across South Australia.