THE Neil family will lose a precious family connection at the end of the year.
After 18 years of regular care and treatment at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Lachlan Neil, 17, will be discharged to enter the daunting prospect of treatment for cerebral palsy as an adult.
His parents, Amanda and Daryl, dread the moment when they bid farewell to the hospital, when tears will be shed, but memories forged will remain forever.
Despite their impending dread, the Neils are inspired to raise the awareness of the hospital that gave them courage and hope for their eldest child.
Tomorrow, Victorians will rattle donation tins and hold fund-raising events “to give that they may grow” for the 85th annual Good Friday Appeal. Funds raised each year help children, such as Lachlan, grow into determined adults with different abilities.
The Kerang family’s journey began on November 30, 1998.
“He was born with a stroke, so he’s paraplegic on his left side, he has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and behavioural issues,” Mrs Neil said.
“He was diagnosed at six months of age and was then involved in scans and travels back and forth to the hospital every three months. As he got older he needed orthopaedics, had hip surgery, lengthening of his feet and tendon release procedures all within one operation.”
Ever since Lachlan was discharged from the hospital’s neurology unit at the age of 16, the transition has been difficult, Mrs Neil said.
“You could rely on the children’s [hospital], and after 18 years you don’t know anything different,” she said.
Despite the physical barriers challenging Lachlan, the Swan Hill Specialist School student remains determined to play sport, don the apron in the kitchen and help load fire wood to keep his siblings warm, all with an infectious smile and a zest for life and for those around him.
“Lachlan has only just started having major epileptic seizures recently and that really hit home, because you can’t ring the hospital now and ask for simple help,” Mrs Neil said.
“We have been from the old hospital over to the new hospital and seen that transition first-hand. The new hospital now is just absolutely amazing, so I am not really looking forward to the end of this year when we get discharged completely and know it is not there any more.”
“You have to go out into the wide world and source specialist health treatment. Not every doctor, although an adult, wants to see a child with special needs.”
Lachlan is looking forward to graduation camp in Queensland this year, but the one thing that he constantly pleads for is his driver’s licence, a plastic card we often take for granted.
“I drive my four-wheel motorbike and go full speed; that I really enjoy,” Lachlan said.
Mrs Neil questioned where her family would be had the funds not been there to continue developing world-class facilities and equipment and ground-breaking medicine.
“Until you have been there and had to use the hospital people don’t really realise how important it is,” an emotional Mrs Neil said.
“To have a child sick and not know what was wrong with them and then having to use it until they reach their adult life is just amazing.
“We were told he may never walk. He got around until he was three on his bottom. Therapy, physiotherapy and medical breakthroughs changed that sombre outlook.”
Mrs Neil said “the best thing in life so far” was seeing Lachlan dance in the school’s debutante ball last year.
“To see those kids learn all the dance moves, better than me I should say, just took my breath away.”
* The Lions Clubs of Kerang and Cohuna will be door knocking for donations tomorrow to help locals like Lachlan.
Both clubs require more volunteers. If you can assist, please attend the Kerang club’s headquarters, Park Road, from 9.30am. Cohuna and district helpers are asked to meet at the Cohuna fire station, Sampson Street, at 9am.
The Gunbower Workshop Café will fund-raise from 9.30am to 11am, with funds from $10 scones and a coffee going directly to the appeal.
Last year a record-breaking $17.1 million was raised.
