Evie Blain’s pneumonia battle sparks Good Friday Appeal fundraising

A young Lara girl who spent days in intensive care with pneumonia has sparked a fundraising movement in her local community to help other sick kids.

Evie Blain, 7, from Lara spent days in intensive care at the Royal Children's Hospital after complications from pnemonia. Picture: David Smith

A young Lara girl who spent days in intensive care battling pneumonia has sparked a fundraising movement in her local community to help other sick kids.

Evie Blain, 7, was having trouble breathing in March last year and was rushed to Geelong hospital.

Her dad, Ash Blain, said Evie was in and out of hospital for days before she was transferred to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne due to complications from pneumonia.

The following day, Evie, then six, underwent surgery to have fluid drained from around her lungs.

Ash Blain with his daughters Evie, left, and Georgia, right. Picture: David Smith

Her parents thought it was just a routine surgery but they received a call saying their little girl had to be intubated and taken to the intensive care unit.

“This was possibly one of the worst situations imaginable for us as parents,” Mr Blain said.

“She had to spend six days in intensive care ... followed by a few days on the ward, before being transferred back to Geelong hospital.”

Mr Blain said the support from the nurses, doctors and hospital staff was “simply amazing” and he was grateful for everything they did for his family.

The Lara Primary School student has since made a full recovery.

“Evie’s stay was a short one compared to a lot of other children, but the care provided to such a sick little girl ... was brilliant,” he said.

“From the nurse that calmed me down when Evie was taken to the ICU, to the doctors that explained complex medical terms in plain language, right through to the support teams that entertained Evie to give us a break from her bedside.”

This year, the Lara fire brigade, where Mr Blain is a second lieutenant, is getting behind little Evie and other sick children by raising money for the Good Friday Appeal for the first time.

“After this experience, our family knows first-hand how important the Royal Children’s Hospital is, and we want to give back in any way we can,” Mr Blain said.

The brigade’s first fundraising event will be a barbecue at Lara Quality Meats this Saturday from 9am to 12pm.

To donate visit fundraise.goodfridayappeal.com.au/fundraisers/larafirebrigade.

Originally published as Evie Blain’s pneumonia battle sparks Good Friday Appeal fundraising