Good Friday Appeal: How Royal Children’s Hospital healed Mernda family

When little Alyssa Malins was born her life hung in the balance. Thanks to the tireless care of the Royal Children’s Hospital the Mernda girl’s life is now much brighter.

Kim Simmons and partner Luke Malins with Alyssa. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Mernda mother Kim Simmons writes about how the Royal Children’s Hospital helped her daughter Alyssa Malins during the most terrifying time of their lives.

Alyssa was born with two holes in her heart and a thick wall of heart muscle on the right side. It wasn’t until our six-week check up that our doctor picked up a murmur and referred us to the RCH.

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She had multiple surgeries, including a cardiac bypass. When we were first told Alyssa needed surgery it was heart breaking. We felt hopeless that we couldn’t fix her overnight.

We felt sick and upset on the day of her surgery knowing we may never see her again.

All the staff, doctors, nurses and ward “grandparents” at the RCH hospital were so caring.

People should support this charity because if it wasn’t for the Good Friday Appeal the RCH wouldn’t have the best technology, staff and facilities to help our kids.

Alyssa is doing well now. She has just turned two and is loving life. She loves dancing with Wiggle, Emma, going to the park and getting up to mischief with her older brother Aiden.

Please donate to the appeal.