https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/she-is-going-to-be-the-one-to-beat-it/3919769/
“SHE is going to be the one to beat it.” It is the mentality that has driven young Mackay parents to remain strong as their daughter battles a debilitating condition. Mia McEldowney was diagnosed with a brain tumour in June, flipping the family’s life on its head. She was told she had nine months to live. Six months on, the eight-year-old’s condition has suffered further, and her outlook from a medical standpoint has not changed.
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https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/hope-in-the-midst-of-long-search-for-answers/3914824/
BRACING for the unpredictable has become second nature to Victoria Harris. Such is the terrifying nature of her daughter’s health condition, she is on tenterhooks day and night. But there will be fewer sleepless nights ahead now that five-year-old Gracie Rupert is in line to have a support dog watching over her. Gracie has been diagnosed with a rare genetic epilepsy disorder – CDKL5, which affects only 600 people worldwide. Because the onset of her seizures are random, her parents often go without sleep to ensure a night-time incident does not turn into something more sinister. https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/seniors-struggle-with-health-costs-but-whos-to-bla/3913400/
WHEN Charlie Symons’s late wife was battling ovarian cancer, the increasing cost of private health care was a difficult burden to bear. Despite being on “the highest cover there is”, the vice president of Mackay District Senior Citizens Club said he was still paying out of his own pocket to keep up with his wife’s escalating treatment demands. “Some of the things people don’t realise is, at that time, she had to have a PET scan every three days and dear old Medicare only allowed two a month – and they were $900 each,” Mr Symons said. “She had that for nearly six weeks.” The cancer tragically claimed Mrs Symons’ life in 2012. The out-of-pocket expenses were in addition to what Mr Symons paid for private health insurance. https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/two-metre-flames-devastate-familys-dream-home/3858826/
A DEVASTATED family is picking up the pieces after a fire destroyed their home. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services responded to a call about 10.30am on Sunday about a rapidly spreading inferno on Ball St in Eton. But by the time crews arrived, it was too late to save the wooden cabin. Owner Ryan Smith was heartbroken on the scene. This was his dream home, he said. https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/34-seizures-in-three-hours-young-familys-traumatic/3838148/
NORMALLY, when Kat Hammond's kids wake up, they can be heard screaming and "yahooing" to no end. But six weeks ago, when her partner went to check on them, their 15-month-old daughter Franky Morgan was delirious and lying in a puddle of sweat. "(My partner) panicked and called the ambulance and we went to Mackay hospital," Miss Hammond said. "We were there from about 8.30 in the morning until 8.30 at night - she was having seizures on the right side of her body and clenching up." The family was flown to hospital in Townsville that night where Franky was monitored for three days to try to find out what was happening. After a stint in the ICU she started to show signs of improvement and was moved to a ward. From there it took a turn - Franky had 34 seizures in three hours. https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/id-given-up-on-life-all-together-i-needed-help/3823077/
THE challenge for Bradley Cowan in confronting his mental illness was opening up. But when he found the support of someone who related to his experience his road to recovery became clearer. Mr Cowan has endured a long process dealing with alcoholism. His addiction triggered a host of mental health issues. He had his first drink on his 18th birthday and "lit up like a Christmas tree”. For a while he managed to turn himself into a functioning alcoholic and perform well at work. But when he was 24 his dad passed away. He bounced to various rehabilitation facilities. For a while, he seemed to be going well but dysfunctional relationships sent him back to the brink. https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/i-died-on-the-road-crash-survivor-tells-his-story/3807671/
WHEN Lindsay Grant woke up from an eight-day coma, he remembered nothing of the highway crash that nearly claimed his life. "I died on the road - CPR by the ambulance (respondents) saved my life. I'm a lucky man," he said. Mr Grant, 47, was travelling north on Nebo Road when a car turned into his path, colliding with his motorbike. He suffered breaks to his femur, arm, thumb and shoulder. He also sustained a lacerated liver, kidney failure and punctured lungs. "There was one time I woke up... and I was in that much pain I just wanted it to stop," he said. https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/how-a-lone-sailor-and-his-cat-were-rescued/3729340/
IT'S a tale of a daring escape, extreme weather and incredible selflessness. As Chris Newlyn sailed his 15.4m yacht Stormtrooper around the Percy Islands with his cat, treacherous conditions pushed him to the brink of disaster. Huge waves knocked him and his boat around, resulting in injuries from a heavy fall. When he heard the deafening bang of an engine bursting, Mr Newlyn knew he was in strife. The manifold had split and his electrical wiring and radio superheated and melted. Drawing on extensive military training, Mr Newlyn rigged his radio off a broken battery - one watt of power enabled him to signal caretakers on Percy Island for help. His distress call was passed to the Queensland Water Police, who alerted Mackay VMR. But the extent of Mr Newlyn's injuries prevented transportation by boat and a RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter was required. At first, he refused to leave. "I told them I wasn't getting off the boat without my cat," Mr Newlyn said. "Simple as that, she's the only thing I've got left in my life." A deal was struck with Mr Newlyn: get to safety and onto the helicopter and VMR would salvage the boat and his beloved pet, Smellycat. https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/when-youre-told-you-have-10-years-to-live/3732386/
IT WAS meant to be a celebratory trip to Japan, but a chilling diagnosis turned Jay Cameron's life upside down. Having suffered daily seizures since he was 18, he returned home from his 21st birthday travels to the news he needed an MRI. The results revealed he had a brain tumour. Mr Cameron was told he had 10 years to live, drastically changing how he saw his future. The news was a devastating blow for him, his family and friends. He said the experience had made it difficult to listen to others complain about their life and sometimes it was "hard to relate". "When I was 80 I wanted to have a huge house on a farm and every Christmas my children would bring their children. But since my diagnosis I've had to rethink my goals and redevelop them," Mr Cameron said. "Most other people have goals for living till they are 60, their world is based around that. I just can't copy and paste those kind of thoughts, I have to rebuild it." ILLEGALLY dispatched debris is threatening the livelihood of long-time commercial fisherman Tom Neil.
In recent work trips to the waters off Cape Hillsborough and St Helens, Mr Neil and his crew have had their fishing nets wrecked by a dumped washing machine, a fridge and iron slats and poles. This has resulted in damage to two trawling nets, which will set him back more than $6000. The damage occurred in areas where trawling is permitted, just outside established green zones. Mr Neil, who has been fishing in Mackay waters for about 30 years, said the financial burden caused by these "booby-traps" was obviously detrimental, but matters could escalate should this issue continue. "There was heaps of stuff tied together with rope - pipe, bits of bar, aluminium mesh ... it's all tied together, gets in our nets and tangles them up," he said. "Thing is, if someone gets hurt seriously I get blamed for it. You could roll a boat over, you could sink - you could do anything if it's big enough. |
AuthorA selection of my general news content. My main round was health, however I frequently covered weather, crime, politics and general human interest. Archives
January 2020
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