"Hospitalisation in the Sydney, Sydney Eye Hospital"

In early 2020, our adult child had a traumatic self-amputation of their right hand. The injury was not a complete amputation, hence they were flown to Sydney for emergency surgery to try to save their hand. Unfortunately the wound was too substantial, so it was decided by my adult child and the surgeons that a complete amputation was the best idea.

My spouse, two other family members (one of whom was 8mths pregnant), and I followed that same night by car to the hospital. A mean feat of 8hrs driving, after leaving late at night. My spouse and I had not eaten since breakfast that day. We were running purely on air and adrenaline.

On arrival at the hospital, our child was awake and bandaged up. They were looked after beautifully by all the staff.

A special shout out to a lovely lady (Beata a social worker) who talked to our child for over an hour her first visit. She met us all. And offered a chat with us all. I managed to have some time with her as well. And she let me talk about my child, our life and this horrible thing that had occurred. She was generous with her time and compassionate, professional, informative, empathetic, all the things I feel she should have been.

It was all the nursing staff and surgeons too who showed their care and professionalism. The ward clerk who helped us get cheap parking, and sorted out a list of cheaper, local accommodation options and the Nurse Unit Manager who helped us with IPTAAS. So many little things that all meant so much. We were fish out of the water and they threw us many lifelines that helped us get through those first very traumatic days.