By Katya Ewing
Nacey entered the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) as a baby in the early hours of July 19, 2017. His mum, Jorja Carter-Smith, remembers him being as yellow as a minion.
After three weeks of investigation, it was discovered that he had biliary atresia – a rare, serious liver disorder in newborns.
Since then, he has repeatedly had visits to the RCH.
“He went from being a sick little baby that was a yellow as a minion to 12 months later after his bowel obstruction, he was bigger than his older brother,” Jorja said.
Today, Nacey, 7, is obsessed with footy, constantly fixated on numbers and scores. He even wakes his mum up at midnight to check the latest scores.
With a mullet like his Essendon idol Sam Draper, he’s strong, resilient, and full of life.
This remarkable transformation is thanks to the exceptional care provided by RCH and its dedicated staff.
Since his first visit, Nacey has spent considerable time at the hospital for treatments related to his bowel and liver.
“They’ve been pretty much like a second home for us at times and Nacey calls it his hospital,” Jorja said.
“It’s not a bad experience when we go there, he’s always very excited to go and see his hospital.”
With an open cafeteria, playground, gym, supermarkets and more patients and families have access to a multitude of facilities to make their experience at the hospital more comfortable.
Jorja said they have built good relationships with the specialists, nurses, and staff at the hospital, which has made it a wonderful place to go.
“I always feel very listened to and very heard,” she said.
“I can’t really talk more highly of it and his specialists themselves.”
Jorja recalled a moment last year where she sent an email off saying she was experiencing issues with Nacey’s medication. Next minute, she got a call from Katie Pilkington, Nacey’s paediatrician, on her overseas holiday making sure that he was okay. This sense of continued care from specialists and staff at the RCH has made the journey a positive experience, Jorja said.
“I just feel a sense of calm when I’m at the hospital when I’m under their care.
“I don’t like to go anywhere else because they’re our people.”
Every year Jorja and her family contribute to the Good Friday Appeal which raises money for the RCH.
“They’re a world class hospital and they save the sickest of sickest kids and after knowing that they saved my son I just couldn’t imagine people not wanting to support them,” Jorja said.
