The father of a little girl from Point Cook, Victoria, says his family will be forever indebted to the Paediatric and Emergency staff at Werribee Mercy Hospital who kept his daughter alive after she suffered an unexpected cardiac arrest earlier this year.
Just weeks after the Paediatric Ward opened in August this year, Mark and JunJie Aves took their influenza-stricken child into the hospital at 1am. Three hours later, seven-year-old Calista deteriorated and went into cardiorespiratory arrest.
Mark says his family were all unwell with flu-like symptoms, but he and JunJie recognised that Calista was suffering the most.
Calista and her family
“We were told that she was showing symptoms of pneumonia and further infection, but we weren’t prepared for the frightening events that were soon to follow,” Mark says.
“After going into cardiac arrest, the doctors performed chest compressions for 28 minutes and her heart stopped beating twice during that time.
“The teams at Werribee Mercy Hospital definitely saved her precious life.”
Paediatric Ward Nurse Unit Manager Simone Danaher said the night was dramatic even for experienced team members, but ultimately there was a wonderful outcome.
Four months later, Calista returned to the hospital with her mum, dad and baby brother Zachary to thank the various team members.
“It was a moving and memorable occasion to see her returning to good health after such a frightening experience,” Simone says.
“All our team members are justifiably proud of the roles we played.
Calista meets up in more pleasant circumstances with Paediatric Ward Nurse Unit Manager Simone Danaher and Emergency Ward Consultant, Dr Adrian Cheng. Both Simone and Adrian were on duty the morning Calista presented to Werribee Mercy Hospital.
“It is extremely rare for a child to present with flu and then arrest as she did. While we were challenged professionally, Calista was fortunate to have the arrest within our Emergency Department, surrounded by skilled practitioners.”
While the doctors and nurses at Werribee Mercy Hospital kept Calista alive, another battle was soon to begin.
Four hours after the cardiac arrest she was transferred to the Royal Children’s Hospital where she required artificial heart and lung support, known medically as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
The teams at Werribee Mercy Hospital definitely saved her precious life
ECMO is the technique of providing prolonged cardiac and respiratory support to patients, and children, whose heart and lungs are failing to work as they should.
Calista required two months’ recuperation at The Royal Children’s Hospital.
The past 12 months will be remembered as quite a year for the Aves family. They came to Australia from the Philippines at the beginning of this year just ahead of the birth in March of Zachary.
Since her time in hospital, Calista has made a gradual return to the Stella Maris Catholic Primary School. While she builds her strength, she is attending classes for one-to-two hours a day.
The teams at Werribee Mercy Hospital wish Calista and her family the very best.
Last reviewed December 16, 2019.