Mum of eight-year-old girl calls for widespread vaccination after daughter infected

A Brisbane mum quarantining in hospital with her Covid-positive eight-year-old daughter has made a heartfelt plea to Queenslanders as she and her husband also fight the highly infectious Delta variant.

A stricken Brisbane mother quarantining in Prince Charles Hospital since Monday with her eight-year-old daughter who is battling Covid-19 has issued a heartfelt plea to all Queenslanders: “This shit is real. Get fully vaccinated as soon as possible so no more families have to go through this nightmare”.

It comes as Megan Spencer, a prominent event planner, herself tested positive on Thursday afternoon to the Delta strain, and her husband was rushed from their western suburbs’ home to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital that morning with coughing and wheezing after returning a positive test.

The little girl has found her time in hospital difficult, since being diagnosed with the highly-contagious Delta variant of Covid. Picture: Supplied

Ms Spencer, who said her daughter was “really struggling and scared her parents might die”, described the family’s ordeal as “horrendous”.

The three were tested on Sunday morning and Ms Spencer and her husband, who have had their first (of two) jabs of Pfizer, recorded a negative result at that time.

A Brisbane girl clutches her bunnies as she’s taken by ambulance to hospital after being diagnosed with Covid. Picture: Supplied

“When our precious poppet tested positive for Delta, we were in disbelief initially, and it truly broke our hearts,” she said.

“At 4.30am the next morning, the ambos came to take her to hospital and I went with her.

“It was pitch dark and there was a lit-up escort and medical staff in PPE; it was like something out of a movie and very confronting for a little person, but my daughter just said her bunnies were scared and she was trying to be brave.”

Sharing a small hospital room for four days now with her only child, Ms Spencer said she knew there was a strong chance she could catch the highly contagious Delta strain, “particularly as I can’t help but cuddle her”.

“As any parent in this situation would tell you, the emotional stress is significant, however we have an amazing family and network of friends supporting us so we’re extremely fortunate. I have to remain strong to get her through this.

“She has deteriorated slightly in hospital with a sore throat and fatigue so we’re hoping that plateaus. With so many now of our school community affected, she doesn’t feel so alone.

“The Ironside State School community is truly fabulous and we’ve had incredible support from families going through their own stress of quarantine and awaiting test results for their little ones.”

A Brisbane girl in hospital after testing positive to the Delta strain. Picture: Supplied

Ms Spencer, who had her second Covid test on Thursday morning, said she and her husband’s cases proved how essential it was for people to be fully vaccinated.

She also urged Queenslanders to abide by the health restrictions.

“Those who flout these restrictions just drag it on for us all and put the more vulnerable at even greater risk,” she said.

Originally published as Mum of eight-year-old girl calls for widespread vaccination after daughter infected