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Robertson family fundraising to thank Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation

Pia van StraalenCanning Gazette

THE Robertson family were thrust into the children’s hospital system after a freak accident landed their eight-year-old daughter in the emergency room with second-degree burns.

A regular Saturday night cooking dinner at home quickly unravelled when Maya Robertson spilled boiling hot food on her foot. Wearing boots at the time, the scorching food slipped down the side of her boot and became stuck, causing a second-degree burn across her right foot.

Maya’s mother Rachael Robertson said the youngster underwent specialist skin graft surgery at PMH and had to wear a compression sock for many months to help ensure the recovery of her skin.

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“With burns injuries it is a really long healing process. We needed to keep the burn moisturised morning and night. Maya saw a physiotherapist initially because when she was starting to walk again it was difficult to put weight on the burn, so she used a wheelchair for a while,” Mrs Robertson said.

“Maya had always been very active and loves dancing, trampolining and playing netball, which were things she couldn’t do for quite some time. Now thanks to regular therapy she is back doing all the things she loves to do and her foot has healed well.”

To thank the hospital staff the family formed Maya’s Mob, a group of walkers fundraising for the John Hughes Big Walk on Sunday, November 13.

Mrs Robertson said fundraising was an important way for the family to thank the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation.

“(We learned) it can happen to anyone – that’s why we’re fundraising for the Foundation to continue supporting the hospital,” she said.

“It’s not something you expect will happen but when it does, it just happens so fast and can have a huge impact on your child’s life and your family’s life.”

Participants in this year’s walk at Burswood Park are being encouraged to “walk for a ward” and choose one of 12 different areas at the hospital to direct their fundraising towards.

The John Hughes Big Walk encourages participants to ‘go at their own pace’ and includes three course lengths: 6km, 11km and 15km, which all start and finish at Burswood Park.

For more information about the Big Walk or to register, visit www.bigwalk.com.au