Emma

"Julie and I tried to have children for a long time and Emma's arrival was the happiest day of our lives. Some months after Emma was born we could see that her skull was misshapen. A doctor explained to us that this was a potentially dangerous condition that could result in severe disfigurement and blindness. Julie and I went from elation to devastation overnight.

photograph courtesy of The Advertiser

"Our doctor referred us to Mr David David at the Australian Craniofacial Unit. He outlined the condition in detail and the surgery that would be required to correct the condition. Staff at the unit assured us of Emma's safety, but I can still remember hugging our child and crying. The day of the operation was even worse. I held her in my arms when they came to take her into theatre . I didn't want to let her go. For the next three hours Julie and I walked around the gardens near the hospital in a complete daze - these were the longest three hours of our lives.

"The operation was successful, thanks to the skill and dedication of the doctors and nursing staff. Emma was soon back at home with us.

"We recently celebrated Emma's first birthday and are confident that the condition has been rectified. It is something that I never want to experience again, and I hope that very few parents and children ever need to experience it in the future. The only way this will occur is if researchers can first find the cause of this condition and, secondly, develop strategies that will prevent it from occurring."

 

Mark (Emma's father)

 

 

 

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