A very busy Santa made a surprise visit to the children’s ward at the Wagga Base Hospital on Friday.
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Santa’s early stop in his busy pre-Christmas schedule gave young patients, families and staff a small break.
Kristy Wallace, mother of two-year-old son who suffered from a brain tumor, said it was a chance to come back with her family and reconnect with the nursing staff.
“In January 2017, Patrick was diagnosed with a brain tumor and so we went to Sydney and he has the tumor removed but he still has 10 per cent there,” Mrs Wallace said.
“We underwent 13 months of chemotherapy, most of which was done weekly through Wagga Hospital and then every six weeks we go back to Sydney and start again.
“He finished in March this year and since then we’ve had stable scans and we haven’t been here for a while which is really nice.
“Patrick is blind now, but doing well and he just started crawling last week so it’s a bit exciting,” she said. Mrs Wallace said the day was also nice for her four-year-old daughter Audrey.
“Our daughter has been through some of the trauma with us so for her to be able to come and see Santa as well, is a really nice thing,” she said.
Some of the nursing staff stayed back after hours to decorate the Paediatric Ward for the children.
Play therapist Kelly Murray said this is her first Christmas at the hospital.
“I think it’s really important for the families to come up here and to get away from all the harsh realities and to have some fun as well,” she said.
“We have former patients that have been using our service throughout the year and also current patients.
“I’m quite new to child life therapy, but it’s been an amazing year and the staff have been very supportive.”
Ms Murray said the day would not have been possible without the support from community donations.
Patrick 2, also blind now as well, but doing well, he just started crawling last week so it’s a bit exciting.