Helping Harriet!

UPDATE 8/1/24

Harriet has now been in the Women’s and Children’s Hospital for nearly three months. Spending New years & her Christmas stuck in a hospital bed. She has undergone a second major brain surgery but still remains in an enormous amount of pain & we are all still seeking answers. Paul and Rhiannon have been by her side this whole time and are dealing with a massive amount of worry and stress, they have been unable to work and any donation would be greatly appreciated to help out this beautiful family that are always the first to help out others and would never ask for help even through this unbelievably difficult time of their lives. I know they are so very grateful to everyone that has donated so far.

Hi, I am Elouise and Harriet is my darling niece. Harriet has had a lifetime of tough journeys and this most recent one is certainly no exception.

I have watched this family battle silently in so many ways and despite knowing they would never reach out or ask for help, they are also the kind of people who would help any one of you without question if needed.

Below is a bit about what has been happening for Harriet and her parents over the last few weeks. I have taken this from a Facebook post they recently made to inform family and friends on Harriet's conditions and lack of improvement.

---- Three weeks ago on the Sunday night Harriet woke up screaming with pain in her head and feeling very sick, we jumped straight in the car and headed to the Women’s & Children’s Hospital where we have all been ever since.

Since being here Harriet has had eight absent seizures where she has been completely unresponsive and which have lasted up to 45 minutes, she has also still been in huge amounts of uncontrollable pain in her head and felt nauseous.

After almost two weeks of scans, tests and consultation with many specialists including the top neurologists and neurosurgeons in SA, the difficult decision was made for Harriet to undergo major surgery last Friday to remove the base of her skull, a risky operation to give her brain some more room and hopefully take some pressure off of her brain and spinal cord.

Unfortunately now over a week since surgery she still has had no relief from the crippling pain in her head, although her neck movement and neck pain from the surgery have improved gradually. They are now in the process of adjusting the setting on her shunt in her head gradually every few days to allow more fluid to surround her brain and spinal cord in the hope that this will eventually provide her with some relief from the pain and get her to be able to walk again.

We were reluctant to do a Facebook post but wanted people to know the facts and to understand what she and we are all going through. We appreciate everyone’s thoughts and kind words of support it means the world to us, we also would be lost without the amazing nurses and staff at the hospital, who along with our families and friends who have provided us with unbelievable support, love and care for Harriet and us. Please understand that we are unable to respond to messages at this difficult time.

Please keep Harriet in your thoughts as we all hope and prey that we can have our beautiful, smiling, funny and happy girl back real soon ----

Harriet's parents have been by her side through this entire journey and whilst we all know this is where they need to be, it doesn't mean the cost of living and bills stop.

I have created this page in the hope that loved ones and our wonderful community can rally behind this beautiful & caring family to help them stay on their feet so that they can remain by Harriet's side awaiting her recovery.

Harriet and her family live over an hour away from the hospital Harriet needs to be. This means neither of her parents can earn income whilst they're going through this.

The challenges ahead are unknown as well as the length of time it is going to take for Harriet to get better. There is already an enormous amount of pressure and stress on this family & I know we all have our own struggles with the cost of living lately but if you can help in any way, we would all be eternally grateful.

Thank you <3