NAROOMA resident Tamsin Davison has been a frequent visitor to Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick (SCH) since being diagnosed with kidney failure in 2011.
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Last week during a special graduation ceremony, Tamsin farewelled her team of health professionals who have cared for her throughout her illness and celebrate her transition to adult health care services.
Nine Network personality, Leila McKinnon joined Tamsin and eight of her peers, also long-term patients of SCH who live with conditions such as cystic fibrosis, renal failure and spina bifida, for an event held September 25, which was similar in style to a high school graduation ceremony.
Dr Michael Brydon, acting chief executive of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network said as patients reach adulthood, they outgrew the expertise of paediatric clinical teams.
“Like any rite of passage, the transition to adult health services marks an important and challenging time in the lives of some inspiring young adults,” said Dr Brydon.
“Tamsin, like many of our patients with serious, life-long health conditions have grown beyond the specialist care of a paediatric hospital, and sadly must transition to a new team of health professionals who are equipped to deal with the challenges of the adult body.
Tamsin, like many of our patients with serious, life-long health conditions have grown beyond the specialist care of a paediatric hospital, and sadly must transition to a new team of health professionals ..."
- Dr Michael Brydon
“With advances in technology and scientific breakthroughs, more and more children with serious and lifethreatening health conditions are surviving into adulthood, making the smooth transition from paediatric to adult health services even more important.
“Our health care teams share a great deal with families who have entrusted us to help take care of their children. Patients and families have been cared for by SCH staff for most of their lives, many since birth, although we are saddened to say goodbye, we are enormously proud of the strong young adults they have become.”
Tamsin has travelled from Narooma to Randwick for regular treatment, including haemodialysis, for more than four years.
Tamsin’s stepdad, Don has been an incredible support throughout her illness, being trained by staff in home haemodialysis to help ease the pressure of travelling.
Tamsin underwent a kidney transplant at SCH in 2014 and continues to do well.
Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick was the first paediatric hospital in NSW to hold graduation ceremonies for adolescent patients.