Ronald McDonald House family room crucial to Elijah’s recovery

‘We had to go back just over two years later to have Elijah’s hematoma removed from his skull which had calcified and was due to trauma in his birth’

Elijah Abramovic had a difficult start to life but while undergoing treatment in the special care unit, his mum Ashleigh Adamson and dad Joshua Abramovic were supported by Ronald McDonald House in Townsville. Picture: Contributed

Elijah Abramovic had a difficult start to life.

Born at 32 weeks and three days gestation, the little boy spent two weeks in the special care unit and recently required surgery for birth-related complications.

Now an energetic two-year-old, Elijah’s mum Ashleigh Adamson and dad Joshua Abramovic will never forget the day they packed up their lives in Mackay to be close to specialist care in Townsville.

“Elijah decided he wanted to enter the world at 30 weeks. But we were lucky enough they could hold him off for another two weeks,” Ms Adamson said.

“We had to go back just over two years later to have Elijah’s hematoma removed from his skull which had calcified and was due to trauma in his birth.”

Elijah Abramovic had a difficult start to life but while undergoing treatment in the special care unit, his mum Ashleigh Adamson and dad Joshua Abramovic were supported by Ronald McDonald House in Townsville. Picture: Contributed

Ms Adamson said the Ronald McDonald House in Townsville welcomed her family during the most difficult times of their lives.

She was thrilled to hear a Ronald McDonald Family Room was being established at Mackay Base Hospital, having grown an appreciation for the family room during the long and stressful days in the Townsville University Hospital.

“You don’t realise that you need it until you’re there,” Ms Adamson said.

“It’s all the little things that you don’t even think about when you have a child in hospital.”

Ms Adamson said the Ronald McDonald Family Room was much more than a warm meal, hot shower and space to escape the clinical hospital ward during Elijah’s difficult start to life.

“We were especially thankful for the family room at the hospital having so many things for Elijah to do and keep him occupied while recovering from surgery,” she said.

• All profits from the sale of the Daily Mercury newspaper when it relaunches on Friday, August 27 will go to Ronald McDonald House Charities North Australia’s plans for a family room at Mackay Base Hospital.

Elijah Abramovic and dad Joshua Abramovic at Townsville University Hospital where Elijah underwent treatment.

“It made a huge difference to Elijah’s recovery, especially when he had his head operation.

“Having a two-year-old confined to a bed is impossible.

“The family room facilities encouraged him to get back to his normal self and he was playing outside an hour and a half after his surgery.”

RMHC North Australia and Mackay Hospital Foundation have appealed for donations to help establish the Ronald McDonald Family Room near the Children and Adolescent Unit at Mackay Base Hospital.

Elijah Abramovic was born at 32 weeks and three days gestation.

RMHC North Australia CEO Tamara South said volunteers would run the facility and provide a homelike environment for families of hospitalised children to take a break from the wards.

“We are thrilled to be establishing a Ronald McDonald Family Room at Mackay Base Hospital to help make hospital stays that little bit easier,” Ms South said.

All profits from the sale of the Daily Mercury newspaper when it relaunches on Friday, August 27 will go to Ronald McDonald House Charities North Australia’s plans for a family room at Mackay Base Hospital.

“We understand that when a child requires hospital care, it impacts on the whole family.

“Designed specifically for Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday region families with hospitalised children, the Ronald McDonald Family Room will include a fully stocked kitchen, showers, laundry facilities, quiet rooms for rest and reflection and play spaces for sick children and their siblings.”

Elijah Abramovic and mum Ashleigh Adamson are backing the campaign to build a Ronald McDonald Family Room at Mackay Base Hospital. Picture: Contributed

Ms South said the Family Room at the Townsville University Hospital welcomed between 300 and 400 families every month and RMHC North Australia was looking forward to growing on the more than 300 Mackay families the charity supported in 2020.

“I am pleased to report that we are incredibly close to our fundraising target and we are so thankful to the Mackay community for getting behind this initiative and supporting the region’s seriously ill children and their families.”

To donate directly to the Mackay Ronald McDonald Family Room or express interest in volunteering, visit fundraise.rhmc.org.au/mackayfamilyroom