How the Good Friday Appeal changes lives
Every day, the Royal Children’s Hospital saves kids from life-threatening health crises. Here, two families share their incredible stories.
In Melbourne, there’s a very special place for families – a place that is a literal lifesaver, where miracles are seemingly performed every day and torn-apart lives are pieced back together.
That place is the Royal Children’s Hospital, which provides world-leading care to sick kids from around Australia.
Every year, the Good Friday Appeal is a massive, critical fundraiser for the hospital.
The money goes towards ground-breaking research, life-saving equipment, family-centred care and on-going training and education for hospital staff.
This year the appeal is celebrating 91 years and an incredible $399 million in support.
The hospital that has touched the lives of so many is hoping to raise a record amount this year, with its focus on fighting against childhood leukaemia.
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Raffi Verrochi’s story
It’s a day Matt and Nicky Verrocchi will never forget: December 11, 2020.
That’s the day they were faced with the devastating news their two-year-old son Rafael (Raffi) was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
This is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.
Raffi quickly began his first round of treatment at the Royal Children’s Hospital, where he spent about four out of six weeks of treatment in the Kookaburra Cancer Care Ward.
“Just the mental and physical toll it took on him was quite heartbreaking from our side,” Matt recalls.
“He went through some very serious situations.”
More than 300 adults and children are diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in Australia each year.
According to the Leukaemia Foundation, it can occur at any age but is more common in young children (aged 0-14), who represent close to 60 per cent of all cases.
It’s the most common childhood cancer.
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Raffi’s road to recovery
Raffi lost his ability to walk, along with his beautiful brown curls.
But soon after his first and most intensive round of treatment ended, the family received positive news: treatment was successful and Raffi was cancer-free.
Raffi is now four years old. His treatment is due to continue until February 2023, check-ups will continue well into his teens and the family is now raising crucial funds for the hospital.
“It’s a special place with very special people.
“RCH has given us so much and if we can do anything to assist we will,” Nicky says.
“The medical resources are extremely important to every family,” Matt adds.
“But it’s the doctors, the nurses and the support staff who create an incredible, caring environment that allows children like Raffi to face every hurdle with a smile.”
To contribute to Raffi’s Good Friday Appeal fundraiser, visit the Good Friday Appeal website.
Matilda Philp’s story
It’s not just kids with illnesses who are cared for at RCH – many children are admitted to the specialist paediatric hospital with injuries.
Matilda Philp is living proof of the lifesaving work performed at the hospital’s state-of-the-art burns unit.
Now 16, Matilda was aged almost two when, in the couple of seconds her mum Moira looked away, she reached out for a toy and fell into a scalding bath.
She suffered burns to the left side of her face, ear and along her shoulders.
Because she had also swallowed boiling water, she also had serious burns inside her throat.
Spending five days in the hospital’s intensive-care unit and five weeks in hospital, she survived skin grafts on the side of her face, neck and shoulders and, in 2017, had a complete ear reconstruction.
How Matilda is thriving
“My favourite things to do now are footy and netball, so I’m always outside and doing things like playing with the dog,” smiles the happy and energetic teen.
Mum Moira is moved to tears when she looks back on the role RCH played in Matilda’s life.
“They are so good – everyone from the social workers to the therapists, nurses and clowns; they are so specialised to children and their needs,” she says.
“I look at Matilda and it makes you realise – and the Good Friday Appeal makes you realise – that that’s what they’re doing all the time.
“They’re saving people’s lives. And that’s what they did for us.”
How to donate to the Good Friday Appeal
There are many ways you can make your donation — either by mail, direct transfer, online or over the phone. Find all the details here.
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Raffi, Matilda and others share their inspirational stories with The House of Wellness TV on Channel 7 Fridays at 2pm and Sundays at noon.
Written by Liz McGrath.
PHOTO: Supplied RCH.
