Royal Children’s Hospital families celebrate as kids head home

These brave kids have spent plenty of time at the Royal Children’s Hospital but now they are finally on their way home to their families for Christmas.

Oli is among some kids at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne who will be going home for Christmas. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Having just spent his third birthday in intensive care after a tumour was removed, the chance to spend Christmas at home will mean more to Oli Plueckhahan and his family than most people could ever appreciate.

Oli is expected to leave the Royal Children’s Hospital today to enjoy a sacred Christmas with a new little sister he has barely had a chance to know.

After mysteriously breaking his leg in August, investigations revealed on September 11 that Oli had the rare cancer neuroblastoma, turning his family’s life upside down.

“We have pretty much lived here since late August,” Oli’s father Joel Plueckhahan (pictured at left with him) said at the RCH.

“The hardest part about the treatment is being separated from each other. We have been separated and my wife has just had a baby, so she was heavily pregnant when we found out about Oli’s diagnosis.

“It will mean so much just to be together.

“Being home for Christmas is what it is all about — just being with family.”

Oli Plueckhahn will be home for Christmas. Picture: Alex Coppel.

As well as spending time with his dad, mum Leni and getting know two-month-old sister Thalia, Oli can’t wait for a chance to unwrap presents with big sister Alesia, 5.

It will be a far cry from Oli’s December 16 birthday, when he woke following 10-hour surgery to remove a tumour from his tummy.

“He is good. These kids are just amazing at how they bounce back,” Mr Plueckhahan said.

“That stuff knocks them for six but he is such a bright and happy kid.

“He is at that age where he just accepts every day as it comes and doesn’t look too forward to the future.

“He has chemotherapy and all his treatments and within a week he is back to his normal self, he is smiling.”

After Christmas, Oli will continue intensive treatment for the next year.

This will include chemotherapy, two stem cell transplants, radiotherapy and finally immunotherapy hoped to prevent any relapse of the cancer in his future.

“Neuroblastoma is a tricky disease and the chance of a relapse is about one in two, so making sure he stays in remission is the key,” Mr Plueckhahan said.

“We just hope he can push on and have a normal life — that is all we want.”

Jordy Iannelli is going home for Christmas with dad Camine and mum Velta.. Picture: Alex Coppel.

FAMILY FEAST A REAL TREAT

BEING able to enjoy Christmas lunch is something Jordy Iannelli and his family will never take for granted.

Born missing 85 per cent of his intestines, the Wodonga 18-month-old spent his first six months in the Royal Children’s Hospital barely able to eat or take in enough nutrients to sustain him.

With Jordy requiring regular checks and treatments at the RCH, his parents, Velta and Carmine (pictured above), were expecting to be able to return home on December 23, however complications meant they are now hoping to be given the all-clear to spend Christmas Eve driving home to Wodonga.

It is still uncertain to what extent Jordy’s gut will develop but regular attempts to get him to eat are essential in avoiding future issues.

With the family preparing a range of roasts — and prawns — for Christmas, Ms Iannelli’s biggest gift is the chance to share the feast with her son.

“We will try — whether he eats it or not is another thing,” she said.

Isabelle’s family is grateful for the Royal Children’s Hospital’s dedicated staff. Picture: Alex Coppel.

THE TIMING OF HER LIFE

Being at home on Christmas Day is not just a chance for Isabelle Monaghan-Naranjo to celebrate Christmas; it is a sign her extraordinary survival is complete.

In an extreme case of being in the right place at the right time, the 18-month-old Richmond girl was in the Royal Children’s Hospital for what was thought to be a minor virus at the moment her heart stopped working.

The RCH is the only Victorian hospital equipped to deal with a child needing the most extreme life support, and Isabelle was immediately placed on a heart and lung machine.

For a week in November Isabelle was kept alive on ECMO – extra corporeal membrane oxygenation – which worked as both her heart and lungs, followed by another fortnight on ventilators in intensive care.

But as she rebounded to full health this week, Isabelle’s father, GP Tim Monaghan, was stunned by the chance to celebrate Christmas at home with a healthy daughter.

“They saved her life in there,” Dr Monaghan said.

“It’s pretty amazing timing to get home for Christmas and for Isabelle to be able to see her grandparents because, with COVID and everything, she has not been able to see any family much this year.”

In further good news Isabelle’s heart was able to repair itself while the machines took over, preventing the need for a heart transplant.

“She went from being very well to her heart stopping working very, very suddenly and they happened to be there and did everything straight away,” Dr Monaghan said.

“That is why she is back to her old self and her heart is back working.”