Evie was in pain and frightened

Evie was in pain and frightened. She is just a little girl. 

COVID-19 border restrictions almost stopped her mum being with her in hospital.

Just a couple of months ago, ten-year-old daughter Evie fractured her leg when she became tangled in a swing and fell.

It was a serious injury - a spiral fracture to both her tibia and fibula. She was in a lot of pain and needed urgent surgery that is not available in her hometown, Broken Hill.

Without the Royal Flying Doctor Service, her mum Kirsty said “I doesn’t know what we would have done that day”.

Regional Australian communities have limited access to medical services, and families like Kirsty’s often need to travel long distances for care, regularly crossing state borders to get specialised medical treatment.

After the local hospital advised them that Evie needed urgent surgery, the RFDS emergency team was immediately mobilised to help fly Evie and her to Adelaide. But because of COVID-19 border restrictions, they faced an unexpected complication.

Kirsty was told that she would need special permission to cross the South Australian border so the mother could travel with little Evie - so she didn’t have to go alone. 

“I was so scared for my daughter”

Everyone is feeling the burden of this pandemic, but many Australian’s might not realise that COVID-19 is making access to urgent healthcare even more difficult for outback families like Kirsty’s.

Thankfully, Flying Doctor flight nurse Jamie, helped to organise access to South Australia, and they were flown to Adelaide for Evie’s surgery.

Will you donate today to help ease the burden on families living remotely?

Your generosity could ensure the Flying Doctor is prepared for any complication the pandemic may bring.