Amity's story

Amitys story.

On Monday the 13th of March 2023 Amity was bought to Mackay base hospital via ambulance with a suspected ingestion of a foreign object and frequently vommiting. Symptoms included continuously swallowing, drooling. It was reported that Amity was perfectly fine before the suspected ingestion. Ambulance done observations on the way to MBH.

Upon arrival the only treatment amity received was a stethoscope to her chest and back then we were sent home because of no beds and the hospital being to busy and doctor communicated that she was "fine". From 4pm that day to 11:30 am the following amity continuously vomited and couldn't keep any fluids or solids down. Amity was lethargic and we both knew something was not right.

We presented to our GP and explained the situation, luckily our GP requested for Amity to be taken back to the Mackay base hospital and x-ray and thorough investigation.

Upon arrival to the Mackay Base hospital we gave the referral to triage and were seated in the waiting area for quite some time. Daniel and I were extremely worried and decided to push for her care.

Finally got Amity in for an x-ray and the button battery was found to be lodged in her throat. After hearing this tragic information Daniel, amity and I were placed back into the ED waiting room.

After half an hour we had had enough and made them take her in.

She received treatment and the theatre team in Townsville were contacted. She was flown with the royal flying doctor and taken straight into surgery for the button battery to be removed.

The E.N.T and airway team tried hard to get the battery out and it was extremely lodged but after a few tries it was finally out.

A 7cm perferation (acid burn from battery)

Amity has been kept unconcious since surgery with a feeding tube. A hole had burnt through her throat because of how long the battery was left.

It will be a long journey of recovery for Amity and she has been looked after extremely well by Townsville theatre and picu and now being treated by Brisbane children's clinic in picu.

She is still under and has been for almost 24 hours. She will be unable to eat for the next 4-6 weeks. Biggest risk is infection so the hospital is doing all necessary precautions for our little girl.

this all could have been prevented if she was x-rayed straight away, the damage that's been done and what she is going through at the moment is because of the neglect and it being in there so long