Romm & Rhiannon Niblett with son Bodhi and quizmaster Nikki Gogan (left). Photo: Bruce Hunt
Camera IconRomm & Rhiannon Niblett with son Bodhi and quizmaster Nikki Gogan (left). Photo: Bruce Hunt Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Manning: quiz night to raise money for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

Leah RobertsFremantle Gazette

SPENDING his first three months in hospital left in the dark, Bodhi Niblett’s start to life was anything but easy.

Bodhi was born not breathing and had hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), which only 1 or 2 in a thousand children experience and has led to him living with conditions such as quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

Romm and Rhiannon Niblett, Bodhi’s parents, vowed to help families like them and are putting on Bodhi’s BIG quiz to raise money for Bodhi J Niblett’s Strength fund.

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Rhiannon, Bodhi’s mother and carer said there were no complications with her pregnancy or the birth.

“As HIE is the injury he also lives with a number of other conditions such as epilepsy, vision and hearing impairments, early on it was all about re-wiring the brain,” she said.

“The change in our lives has been quite strong, we can’t leave Bodhi by himself for half an hour without the risk of something happening to him.”

Currently they see a string of doctors for physio, hydrotherapy and speech therapy.

Father Romm Niblett said he slept in the hospital for three weeks of Bodhi’s life.

“We got to know everyone on a first name basis and during Christmas we found all these charities and foundation coming to give comfort to kids with specific syndromes but they would read Bodhi’s chart and go he’s not one of us and would just walk on,” he said.

“That got us thinking that’s really important, why isn’t there someone out there for specifically for HIE kids?”

Former bachelor contestant and Romm’s colleague Nikki Gogan said she sat across from Romm at work and the story of his son inspired her.

“I have a girlfriend who I used to work with in Northam who has a son, is similar age and is similar to Bodhi,” she said.

“I did a fundraiser with them a couple of years ago and when this came around I didn’t hesitate.

“I’m happy to help, any sort of positivity that be gained for Bodhi, Rhi and Rom, that’s what I want.”

THE ESSENTIALS:

WHAT: Bodhi’s BIG Quiz

WHEN: Saturday August 11 from 6.30pm to midnight

WHERE: Manning Community Centre

TICKETS: https://www.trybooking.com/398673