What happened?
It was a cold winter night in early July; I was awoken by the cries of Paige, who was just shy of 10 months old. At that time, it was common for me to get up during the night to breastfeed her, so her crying didn’t immediately alarm me. Following my usual routine, I walked to her room and didn’t turn on the light, planning to pick her up, feed her, and put her back into the cot once she fell asleep.
However, as I entered the room, I realised the crying wasn't coming from the direction of her cot. In the dim light, I saw a flicker of movement on the floor near the oil heater, which we used to warm her room. Unbeknownst to me, I discovered Paige had fallen out of her cot, and her outstretched hand was caught between the columns of the oil heater.
I quickly scooped her up and rushed to the other side of the room to turn on the light. Her hand was shockingly white, the telltale sign of a severe contact burn from prolonged exposure to the heater. Panicked, I called out for her dad, who immediately took over and began the initial first aid by taking her into a cold shower.
We live a few streets from Rockingham General Hospital Emergency Department, so while Paige and her dad were in the shower, I quickly put our sleeping 3-year-old in the car. Then, I took Paige from the shower, and we made a mad dash to the hospital with her on my lap. We rushed into triage upon arrival, where the nursing staff immediately recognised our urgency. They quickly ushered us back into the shower for continued first aid while preparing some pain relief and mild sedation for Paige.
At the hospital, we discovered Paige had sustained burns covering 2.5% of her total body area to her chin, neck, torso, and right arm (partial thickness), with the most severe (full thickness) burns on both the front and back of her right hand.
Treatment and recovery journey
After a thorough head-to-toe assessment and recognising the severity of Paige’s injuries, the medical team promptly arranged for her transfer to Perth Children’s Hospital Burn Service. Waiting for the initial consultation with the burns specialists was very difficult. Not knowing what to expect and being unaware of the long journey ahead made it even harder.
Paige was admitted to the burn unit for two weeks, during which she underwent three surgeries, with a fourth scheduled for a week after her discharge. The surgical procedures included debridement, RECELL, and skin grafting. She received various full-thickness skin grafts and RECELL therapy, which is considered the innovative gold standard for treating deep burns. The burns team achieved remarkable results in reducing scarring.
After the surgeries, we regularly visited the burns clinic for dressing changes and check-ups for several months, gradually spacing out the visits as Paige improved. Throughout this period, Paige showed incredible resilience. Despite her young age, she was remarkably cooperative, often assisting the nurses by helping to remove her dressings and clean her wounds during changes.
As Paige transitioned from an infant to a toddler, she developed contractures that caused tight banding and restricted movement in her hand. She underwent her first scar release and revision surgery at 18 months and her most recent one in January 2024, at three years old. The physical and occupational therapy team was crucial in designing splints that fit Paige perfectly. These splints protected her wounds and aided in stretching her hand and fingers.
The journey through burn recovery is long and sometimes challenging, but the exceptional team at the PCH Burn Service were amazing throughout. Their communication has always been clear, and their support and care have been consistent, continuing even now, nearly three years later. Paige's journey is far from over as she grows and faces the possibility of future surgeries. However, she is in the best hands with a dedicated team that ranges from surgeons and doctors to nursing staff and allied health professionals. We are truly grateful for their expertise and compassionate care.
Life now
Despite the severe nature of Paige's burns and the contractures from her injuries, she has made remarkable progress. Paige has regained good functionality in her hand and can make a pincer and pencil grip. She is always drawing and colouring and loves to swing and play on monkey bars—a feat I once thought impossible. Her injuries haven't slowed her down or prevented her from enjoying activities other young children enjoy.
Paige is fortunate to lead a relatively normal life at nearly four years old with hardly any significant limitations. As a passionate advocate for burns awareness, she wears her scars proudly and is not shy about sharing her story. She educates others about "burn bandits," a concept she learned from the Ben & Bella Burnsafe Superhero Books. She is incredibly vigilant about sun safety and applying sunscreen to protect her skin and scars. We have also participated in the Burn Injury Biobank research project, contributing our samples to research focused on better understanding the psychological and physiological impacts of burn injuries.
As a parent and a paediatric nurse, I seize every opportunity to share our lived experiences and promote burns prevention and safety. This is why I am strapping on harness for the Central Park Plunge 2024 (click here to support) to help spread burn awareness and raise funds to support the Fiona Wood Foundation's research and education efforts.