Cape York kids get life-changing surgery

Twelve Cape York kids, supported by parents and carers, arrived in Cairns last week for life changing ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery in an initiative put together by CheckUP, Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS), and Coral Sea ENT surgeon Dr Sukhbir Ahluwalia.

Families from the remote communities of Wujal Wujal and Hopevale travelled to Cairns on Monday 20 March to prepare for the surgeries on Wednesday.

They were supported by TCHHS ENT Project Manager Susan Jacups and Ear Health Coordinator Denise Newman. Both Torres and Cape York staff  were involved in coordinating the surgeries, organising travel and accommodation and being on hand during the families’ stay in Cairns to provide help and support.

A carer for one child had high hopes that the surgery would make a real difference.

'This child is having his ear drum repaired, and an adenoid removed,’ she explained.

‘He has a hole in his ear drum and is meant to wear hearing aids but doesn’t like them.  I’m hoping it all goes well and he can hear properly for the first time.’

‘It’s been great coming down as a group, good to connect with other people going through the same things and good for the kids to have other kids around them.’

Pictured: Denise Newman, TCHHS

Pictured: Isaiah (10 years) and Lilly Cree

The funding for the surgery was provided to CheckUP by the Commonwealth Department of Health through the Eye and Ear Surgical Services program.