Indi's Journey

The 2nd of March 2024 Indi ended up being admitted to hospital for 2 weeks. Originally it was thought that Indi had a broken coccyx and couldn’t walk but she ended up being diagnosed with FND, Functional Neurological Disorder and more recently since moving to The Royal Children’s Hospital and upon further testing Indi’s family learnt that she was wrongly diagnosed and was diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome.

Guillain Barre Syndrome is a rare disorder in which your body's immune system attacks your nervous system. Weakness, tingling and pain spread through the body and eventually can lead to paralyzing the whole body. Guillain Barre syndrome is often a medical emergency. Most people with the condition must be hospitalized to receive care and treatment.

Indi has developed life changing symptoms, her symptoms include but are not limited to:

Indi is spending most of her time either in bed or requires a wheel chair

She's no longer able to walk, stand, or sit up without support

She is unable to move from laying down to sitting herself

She needs help to go to the toilet and has lost bowel and bladder control

Her speech has changed

She is having swallowing difficulty

She is unable to move her arms sometimes

She has severe fatigue

Severe pain and numbness in all limbs and extremities

This has all developed since the fall from the monkey bars and being diagnosed.

Indi Pulham is a beautiful 10 year old girl, she is the precious daughter of Stacey and Damien Simpson (Delaney), loved grandchild of Brian and Jeanette Delaney, big sister to her little brother Harley who is 20 months old and friend to many. She loves playing with her friends and her little brother, riding her bike, doing woodwork at school,playing soccer and of course playing on her beloved IPad. All of a sudden she is no longer able to do the things that fill her heart with joy.

Indi was discharged and sent home from hospital and once home Indi’s parents were caring for Indi around the clock, with everything from toilet visits to feeding Indi due to her inability to do so herself. After an appointment with a local GP, an urgent referral was made to admit Indi to the Royal Children's Hospital for further investigation and treatment. A decision that came as a relief and welcomed by the family however brings with its own worries. Indi will be admitted for an extended period of time which will have a huge financial impact on the family. The journey between Warrnambool and The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne is 3.5 hours, not counting stops for the childrens’ needs.

I am a family friend and felt that it's time to call upon the community to help support Indi and her family in this life altering journey. The money raised will be used to relieve pressure financially on the family so they can just focus on being there for Indi and how to best support her, pay for travel, medical costs and expenses and explore treatment options. Indi’s parents are a beautiful, loving team, they are taking each step of each day as it comes. While Indi is admitted at the Royal Children’s they would love to keep the family together. Whilst mum is able to stay with Indi in hospital, Dad will need to find somewhere to stay close by with Indie’s little brother too.

If you are able to donate to support Indi and her family to help them though this journey they would be so grateful.