Doctors, nurses and healthcare workers at The RMH will go above and beyond this Christmas to save patients like Kingsley.
You could hardly imagine anything more terrifying. Kingsley was a fit and healthy young father when he suddenly collapsed at home. He was rushed to The Royal Melbourne Hospital and received the heart-breaking news that he'd developed a severe case of Guillain-Barre syndrome.
This rare condition quickly paralysed the muscles in Kingsley’s arms, legs and even his face. Before long, he needed a ventilator to help him breathe.
Kingsley spent 66 days in The RMH's Intensive Care Unit while our team did everything possible to care for him. He couldn't move at all but his mind still worked as normal - it was like being trapped inside his own body.
The RMH staff did everything possible to care for Kingsley and help keep his hope alive. When he had a fever and was terrified of being left alone, a nurse held his hand for over three hours.
The team even made it possible for Kingsley to speak again by connecting a special valve to a tube in his throat. After months of silence, the first thing he did was turn to his wife and say 'l love you'.
Today, Kingsley's made a full recovery. He can walk, talk and cuddle his baby daughter - things he feared he may never be able to do again. It just shows you the power of the specialist care here at The RMH.
This Christmas, our doctors, nurses and healthcare workers won’t be taking a holiday. They will be working tirelessly to provide the highest level of care for patients like Kingsley, who are fighting for their lives.
But they can’t do it alone. When you think that one night in the ICU costs $6,476 and Kingsley stayed there for 66 nights, you can see why your support is urgently needed.
Please will you help our team go above and beyond for critically ill patients this Christmas by giving generously today? Thank you.