Geelong legend Billy Brownless will join a slew of local personalities and peers for Sunday\u2019s Light up the Green, transforming GMHBA Stadium into a driving range.<\/p>\n
Teeing off on August 12 at 6pm from a purpose-built platform, the Hanlon Industries event raises funds for the Barwon Health Foundation Kids Appeal.<\/p>\n
Media personality Tom King will kick off proceedings and said it\u2019s a cause close to home after daughter Kensi spent over 50 days in the kids ward.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving seen the work staff (doctors, nurses, diabetes educators, dietitians, speech pathologist) did for our family at University Hospital during our numerous stays, I felt the need to say thank you in a way more tangible than words.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout them, Kensi wouldn\u2019t be with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Barwon Health ambassador, Mr King said in April 2016 they took their youngest daughter to hospital after three vomiting episodes in less than 12 hours.<\/p>\n
\u201cFollowing the development of nystagmus (involuntary movement of the eyes), she was whisked off for a chest x-ray to assess the possibility of neuroblastoma.<\/p>\n
\u201cOther possibilities were thrown at us including a brain tumour and none of them sounded like a good outcome, it\u2019s not something any parent wants or should have to hear. Kensi lay barely conscious, with next to no response to anything going on around her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr King said after blood tests the doctor returned to the room to advise they would be moved to resuscitation, following the discovery that her blood glucose level was 0.8mmol\/L.<\/p>\n
\u201cA scary few hours ensued as doctors, nurses and specialists worked to keep her conscious, stabilise her blood sugar, and investigate the cause of a blood glucose level that could easily have been fatal,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
They spent 11 more nights on the kids ward before being discharged, and after two months of uncertainty were told Kensi had congenital hyperinsulinism.<\/p>\n
\u201cKensi spent more than 40 days on the kids ward across four visits. She had a nasogastric tube placed with a view to utilising it for some short-term nutritional supplementation.\u201d<\/p>\n
A feeding tube was placed at the RCH which remained for 13 months until a procedure on August 3 replaced the PEG with a mic-KEY button.<\/p>\n
\u201cKensi\u2019s condition has stabilised significantly, but we know how unpredictable HI can be and the challenges that come with illness, etc.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr King said Geelong needs a dedicated paediatric rehabilitation centre and whilst the McKellar Centre does a wonderful job, the region requires a facility that can tailor programs to children and teenagers.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll money raised will bring us closer to making a kid\u2019s rehabilitation centre a reality.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs our experience with Kensi taught us, you just don\u2019t know when and why you\u2019re going to need Barwon Health.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tickets include a two-course meal and drinks, with all funds raised going to support the Kids Appeal, call 4215 8900 or visit barwonhealthfoundation.org.au for tickets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Geelong legend Billy Brownless will join a slew of local personalities and peers for Sunday\u2019s Light up the Green, transforming GMHBA Stadium into a driving range. Teeing off on August 12 at 6pm from a purpose-built platform, the Hanlon Industries event raises funds for the Barwon Health Foundation Kids Appeal. Media personality Tom King will […]<\/p>\n