Brighter Lives: Christmas appeal to transform the lives of kid burn survivors in North Queensland

This holiday season, Brighter Lives is on a mission to bring hope and healing to North Queensland kids who have suffered serious burns like two-year-old Freddy McNamara. This is his story.

Kimberley McNamara with her son Freddy, 2, help to welcome the Christmas cheer at Townsville University Hospital. Picture: Shae Beplate.

This holiday season, Brighter Lives is on a mission to bring hope and healing to North Queensland kids who have suffered serious burns.

The charity is raising funds for a cutting-edge dual-wavelength laser, valued at $173,000, to be stationed at the Townsville University Hospital.

This advanced technology promises to revolutionise burns treatment in the region, ensuring that young patients receive the best care possible.

Tanya Busoli, the chief executive of Brighter Lives, shared that they have already secured $103,000 towards their goal.

Now, with the spirit of giving in the air, they are reaching out to the public, urging them to contribute to this cause and help bridge the gap to reach the target amount.

Townsville Hospital and Health Service CEO Kieran Keyes

Kieran Keyes, chief executive of Townsville Hospital, said the hospital treats more than 200 children who have sustained burn injuries every year, and having this state-of-the-art equipment was essential for providing acute treatment and ongoing support.

The dual-wavelength laser is designed to effectively target smaller skin and scar tissue areas, offering a more precise and efficient approach to treating problematic scarring.

Kimberley McNamara with her son Freddy, 2, help to welcome the Christmas cheer at Townsville University Hospital. Picture: Shae Beplate.

It will improve the quality of life for burn survivors like two-year-old Freddy McNamara.

In August, Freddy suffered a serious burn to his hand after getting it stuck in the family treadmill while innocently playing with his toy cars.

Kimberley McNamara, Freddy’s mum and a neonatal nurse, immediately rushed him to the emergency department where he underwent two surgeries.

She said it had been a “horrific” couple of months for her family.

“You always think worst-case scenario, and my greatest fear was he would lose his finger,” she said.

She said Freddy’s injury will have an ongoing impact as he grows older, and the new laser treatment may become a crucial intervention if he starts losing the movement of his finger.

“Scars don’t grow with children, so he will have to be monitored until he stops growing,” she said.

You can donate to the Brighter Lives fundraiser here: www.givenow.com.au/laser

Originally published as Brighter Lives: Christmas appeal to transform the lives of kid burn survivors in North Queensland