By Alesha Capone
STAFF and patients at Werribee Mercy Hospital have banded together to raise money for a young Truganina resident who faced a life-saving operation in December.
Four-year-old Callum McCarthy featured in Star last year, before he underwent his fourth open-heart surgery.
The “fontan” operation, to make blood in Callum’s body flow to his lungs without assistance from the heart, was performed at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Callum, who has a rare combination of several congenital heart defects, is just like any other child but cannot play high-impact sports like football.
His mother and father, Amanda and Justin McCarthy, are both nurses and said their son would not have survived without the operation.
Mr McCarthy, who also works at the Werribee hospital, said he was delighted when the hospital presented the family with almost $3000 to help their son.
Employees and patients at the hospital collected and contributed donations to the appeal, as a Christmas surprise for the McCarthys.
With part of the funds, Callum’s parents have purchased a machine which will make the plucky child’s post-operative life much easier.
“He will need to use this machine around once a week for the rest of his life,” Ms McCarthy said.
By having the “coaguchek” machine at their home, Callum will not have to travel to hospital once every seven days to make sure his blood is clotting properly.
Mr McCarthy said this would make Callum’s life easier once he starts kindergarten this year, and later on begins attending school.
