Peace of mind for Ipswich family of Covid positive toddler with lung disease

A Rosewood family in isolation are closely monitoring the health of their little girl in fear that Covid-19 may affect her lung disease.

A two-year-old Rosewood girl with lung disease tested positive to Covid-19 and if she needed to be rushed to hospital her mother and father initially feared they would not be allowed to go with her because they also had the virus.

Although, since the original publication of the article on Monday, January 10, Ms Waite was contacted by a paediatric nurse who informed her that she could in fact travel to the hospital with Violette if need be.

Steph Waite, her life partner, and three girls Scarlette, Rosealie, and Violette before their birth of their youngest sister Lillianna in 2021. Pictures: Contributed

Violette, who turns three in April, has always suffered from bronchiectasis and breathing issues although she wasn’t diagnosed with lung disease until 2021.

Steph Waite, 28, said she fears for her daughter’s health because her illness affects the function of her lungs and airways.

Violette usually suffers from a continues build-up of mucus in her lungs,” she said.

“Basically any illness can exasperate her condition,” Ms Waite said.

“I have no idea what’s going to happen, I’m concerned she’s going to end up in hospital … (and) I don’t know if I can go with her because I tested positive.

“It’s worrying because if she gets any kind of infection it sits in her chest, and she can’t cough it up like a normal person so it gets trapped and festers,” Ms Waite said.

Ms Waite said Violette has a fever, chesty cough and blocked nose and in the past was rushed to hospital after contracting the common cold.

Little Violette was rushed to the emergency room in early January after chocking on her dinner where the family spent over two hours at the Ipswich Emergency Department. Pictures: Contributed

Ms Waite, her partner and four daughters - aged between nine-months and five - have all tested positive after tracking down a PRC test on January 10.

Ipswich’s 4 Cyte and Showground drive-through sites were both closed and the family eventually got a PCR test at the Raceview Hockey Field.

Ms Waite aid because they had no idea how long the family would be in their car they were forced to put all the children in nappies despite two being toilet trained.

“It makes everything so much harder when you can’t find a rapid test or even a PCR,” she said.

“They shouldn’t have opened the borders if the services weren’t ready to handle it.

“Because it’s so difficult some people aren’t even bothering to get tested.”

The time it takes to track down RAT or PCR test is detrimental to the families’ livelihood because each time a new household member tests positive the seven day isolation period restarts.

“My husband is off work as a close contact and it’s been difficult with no money coming in,” Ms Waite said.

The Waite family waiting in line for PCR tests at Ipswich, Raceview on Monday, January 10. Picture: Supplied

The Rosewood mum is pleading for residents to stay home and do the right thing to protect vulnerable members of the community as she herself suffers from underlying health conditions.

“I’m fully vaxed and it floored me,” she said.

“If you have any symptoms at all please don’t go out and go and get tested even if it’s a slight sore throat.”