Sunshine Coast, QLD – What was supposed to be a relatively smooth sailing double knee replacement for Peter Hansen at a hospital north of the Sunshine Coast, turned into a nightmare of a week.
Mr Hansen’s wife Tracy, who is accustomed to full-time care from her husband, witnessed the terrifying ordeal when he had an adverse reaction to the anaesthetic.
“It was so scary seeing Peter having these terrible hallucinations,” Tracy said.
After some time, Peter was discharged to go home to the couple’s five-acre property in Gheerulla, north of Kenilworth, but the 53-year-old’s state deteriorated.
“Peter ended up being taken to hospital in the early hours and he was only half our worry. The catastrophic South East Queensland floods were inundating our property and neighbours. Eventually, I was rescued after being without power for 24 hours,” she said.
“While Peter spent the first week recovering at Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH), I had my brother driving me at 4.30am every day to visit Peter and we wouldn’t get home until after 7 at night – it was simply too much.”
When Tracy reversed her scooter into a lift at SCUH, she had a heart-warming moment when she saw a sign about Wishlist’s affordable accommodation close to the hospital.
“By the time I found out about Wishlist, we were seriously broke. While I couldn’t access my home due to floods, I was footing the bill for short term accommodation in Noosa during the school holidays.”
Wishlist accommodated Tracy in Wishlist House for two weeks – a ‘home away from home’ nearby SCUH.
“I was overwhelmed by how caring and compassionate the volunteers were to me. I don’t know how we would have coped. Wishlist House was a lovely family environment in the midst of a nightmare.”
After several weeks, Peter was discharged from hospital and is now tending to his paddocks and metal as a blacksmith by trade.
“Whilst the cause of Pete’s ‘episode’ is still unknown, I however am not back to my old self. I’ve become a new person. I’m far more switched on to the human landscape around me and I’m far more open to strangers.”
“That’s the last and lasting gift Pete’s time at SCUH and my time at Wishlist House has given to me. To everyone involved, all I really can say is THANK YOU.”
Wishlist is a not-for-profit organisation making the hospital experience better for patients and families through hospital accommodation, the provision of medical equipment, patient support services, research and education.
Without services like this, families like Peter and Tracy would be left without much needed support during a health crisis.
A health crisis can happen to anyone, no matter their age or occupation. Help vulnerable members in your community and support a charity like Wishlist and become a Regular Giver today.
Regular Giving means that Wishlist can continue to provide amazing services to people in some of their darkest days.
Visit wishlist.org.au to find out more.
About Wishlist:
Wishlist is a not-for-profit organisation based on the Sunshine Coast, QLD. Wishlist’s aim is to direct $1 million to the needs of the local health service each year, through quarterly grants for equipment, support services, research and staff education. Since 1998, Wishlist has raised and directed more than $19 million into health projects and resources for the community. Some of the things they fund include transitionary accommodation for patients and families, research projects, medical equipment, staff scholarships and support services such as Clown Doctors, Delta Therapy Dogs, Yoga Therapy and Music Therapy.
Website: https://wishlist.org.au/
Media Contact
Company Name: Wishlist
Contact Person: Bianca Keegan
Email: Send Email
Phone: 5202 1777
Country: Australia
Website: www.wishlist.org.au/