Bundaberg baby Banksie-Blu dies following health battle

A tiny baby, who faced emergency surgery to remove her arms and legs and was found with holes in her heart after a hospital originally gave her a clean bill of health, is being mourned.

Bundaberg Hospital.

A Bundaberg family has described how their world has fallen apart after their baby, who faced surgery to remove all her limbs, lost her fight for life.

Banksie-Blu’s story captured the hearts of people in Bundaberg and around the state after details of her brave health battle and Queensland Health review into her treatment were revealed.

Born on October 7, 2022, she was sent home from Bundaberg hospital without complication but started showing signs of being unwell and was taken back to the local hospital before being flown to Brisbane where she was diagnosed with holes in her heart.

Due to the lack of oxygen in her little body, Banksie-Blu was hospitalised and faced surgery to remove her arms and legs.

Tragically she succumbed to her condition in recent days.

Over the weekend, Banksie-Blu’s grandmother Debbie Brady took to social media to share her family’s heartbreak at the loss of the little girl they said made the world a better place.

“Today I am broken,” she said.

“Today I am sad. Today our world fell apart.

“Our beautiful Banksie-Blu, how much better you made us all just with your presence.

“My tears are still flowing and always will.”

The community rallied behind the family after they set up a GoFundMe page to raise money during their time of need.

Last week, Queensland Health announced it would conduct an internal review into Banksie-Blu’s treatment in Bundaberg Hospital.

“The Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service are conducting a safety and quality review into this case in line with their clinical incident review process,” a spokesman said.

The family has been contacted but did not wish to comment.