Vanessa is under the care of eye surgeon Associate Professor Krishna Tumuluri together with the Ophthalmology and Neurosurgery teams at Westmead Children’s Hospital.
Vanessa and her father who prefers to be called Ino are staying at Ronald McDonald House Westmead and have settled in well. They are enjoying meeting other families at RMH and are being supported by the Eastern Region team with Rotarian Maggie Thorn coordinating their care while Anita Robinson is away.
The team has been visiting regularly and helping Vanessa and Ino enjoy some opportunities to see a little of Sydney (pictured above and below).
Vanessa has had a pre-surgery consultation with the Ophthalmology team at the Eye Clinic, followed by an MRI scan. A meeting was then held with the Ophthalmology and Neurosurgery teams to discuss Vanessa’s proposed treatment and surgical plan.
Eastern Region team member Rotarian John Heslop and his wife Liz were also there to support Vanessa and Ino. With the assistance of a translator, Eno was given a detailed explanation of the proposed treatment was able to ask questions and discuss the plan with the medical team.
Further appointments with the anaesthetist and other pre-surgery assessments have been completed in preparation for Vanessa’s surgery scheduled for Wednesday this coming week.
The Eastern Region team will continue to support Vanessa and Ino throughout their time in Sydney providing friendship and reassurance during what is understandably a worrying time for the family.
Mothers of patients from two different countries met recently as one headed home through Brisbane Airport following treatment.
After five weeks in Sydney, we recently said goodbye to Vanessa and her dad Ino as they began their journey home to Timor-Leste.
Brenden, aged 12, is recovering at Auckland’s Starship Children’s Hospital from successful heart surgery to repair damage caused by rheumatic fever.
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