One minute Grace was a happy little toddler playing pink dress-ups with her Barbie dolls. The next she’s in the back of an ambulance being rushed to the Burns Unit at the children’s hospital.
Mum Shivon said it happened so fast they were in shock trying to comprehend it all.
“I was making hot chocolates for the kids when Gracie suddenly grabbed a mug accidentally spilling the contents. She cried out instantly and it sent shivers through my spine,” Shivon said. “We’d never had anything like that happen in our family and suddenly there are sirens and Gracie being hooked up to all these devices by the paramedics.”
The incident shook the whole family. It was frightening for Grace’s brothers Elijah, age six and Micah age four, watching it unfold and seeing their sister in so much pain.
At the hospital, Grace’s burns were immediately treated with negative-pressure wound therapy also known as a vacuum assisted closure. She narrowly escaped surgery.
Grace remained in hospital for eight days enduring painful dressing changes and wound care treatment.
Shivon said it was during this distressing time that they discovered Captain Starlight.
“The wonderful Captain Starlights made everything a bit brighter and helped ease the pain for Gracie.”
Shivon said navigating the unfamiliar processes of hospital was daunting and distressing so having moments of lightness and laughter helped the whole family.
“We just needed to do everything we could to help Gracie heal. It’s an emotional and physical journey for a child to go through,” mum said.
Burn care is extremely painful and Grace was terrified every time she had her dressings changed. Shivon said having Captain Starlight there with fun and laughter helped Grace cope with the pain and fear.
“The Captain Starlights were so cheerful and the way they interact at the child's level is amazing. We were fortunate to have Captain Starlight on the ward and the Starlight Express Room helping kids like Gracie forget the pain and allowing them to be a child all over again.”
Whenever Grace’s brothers visited the hospital, they loved going to the Starlight Express Room to play games – Shivon jokes it’s the only reason they came!
“Without Starlight, there would be nothing to look forward to; hospital would be a sad, miserable place for kids. Starlight makes hospital a better place and takes away the worry and anxiety for parents,” Shivon said.
Grace’s brothers loved the Starlight Express Room so much, they wanted to help other kids in hospital have the same fun they did. So Elijah and Micah saved up their pocket money to donate to Starlight as part of the WA Telethon.
“I remember Elijah asking me who had helped Gracie in the hospital and when I said Starlight, he said he wanted to donate his money to them. It was such a lovely thing to do and we’re with him 100%. Starlight’s impact will stay with us forever and we’ll continue to support to help bring smiles to other children and families in the hospital.”
As her wounds begin the long process of healing, Grace has slowly become her old bubbly self again. She will need ongoing scar management for the next two years but in the she meantime she knows Captain Starlight will be there with the fun and laughter to make hospital less scary.
