'The scariest part is the recovery': courageous baby Hugo's fight for life
At only four days old, Hugo Holding went through open-heart surgery.
Mum Hayley White, of Cessnock, said Hugo was diagnosed with a heart condition while she was pregnant.
"We were asked if we wanted to terminate the pregnancy. That was a heartbreaking thing to be asked," Ms White said.
"No child asks to be born, but we wanted to say we did everything we could to give him a life.
"It was hard. We knew we'd be choosing to put our baby first and this would affect our other children."
She added that if "any of my children were unwell, there's not a thing I wouldn't do for them".
"I decided my unborn baby deserved that same respect. He is my child."
Ms White sought to raise awareness that one in 100 babies are born with a congenital heart defect.
Hugo's heart condition meant "the whole left side of his heart is small, including his valves".
During surgery in January, he had an aortic arch repair and ASD [atrial septal defect] closure at Westmead Children's Hospital.
Ms White said the surgeons and cardiologists were "amazing".
"You can tell they really do care. They truly want the best for the child," she said.
Hugo was in ICU for two months and a cardiac ward for a month.
During this time, Hugo's dad Tyson Holding lost his job after his place of work was sold.
A GoFundMe, titled "Hugo's Journey", has been started to help the family.
Hugo went home for 10 weeks, but a follow-up echo scan showed his heart pressures were high.
He returned to hospital last month for a diagnostic procedure.
"He lost blood and went downhill. There was an issue with the ventilation machine. At one point, it wasn't working properly," Ms White said.
"He ended up in ICU and didn't bounce back. After two days, they decided to intubate him, putting tubes down his nose and throat to take over the lungs' work."
The doctors were concerned for Hugo's life, so he underwent a second open-heart surgery on May 30, called the Ross procedure, to replace his aortic valve with his own pulmonary valve.
His pulmonary valve was replaced with a donor valve.
"They've said the blood flow is looking a lot better now and his heart pressures are down," Ms White said.
"His recovery so far is a lot better than last time. Fingers crossed he keeps on that path."
Doctors have said Hugo's mitral valve will probably need replacing in future with a mechanical valve.
Now five months old, Hugo is in a ward at Westmead for children with heart conditions.
"After a big surgery, they put them on a lot of opioids like morphine and fentanyl. He's now being weaned from the drugs, which takes weeks.
"The scariest part is the recovery and the things that can go wrong after surgery. It's really hard on the little babies."
The family, including three of Hugo's four siblings, is staying at Ronald McDonald House.
"I would like to give a shout out to Ronald McDonald House and the charity HeartKids," Ms White said.
At only four days old, Hugo Holding went through open-heart surgery.
Mum Hayley White, of Cessnock, said Hugo was diagnosed with a heart condition while she was pregnant.
"We were asked if we wanted to terminate the pregnancy. That was a heartbreaking thing to be asked," Ms White said.
"No child asks to be born, but we wanted to say we did everything we could to give him a life.
"It was hard. We knew we'd be choosing to put our baby first and this would affect our other children."
She added that if "any of my children were unwell, there's not a thing I wouldn't do for them".
"I decided my unborn baby deserved that same respect. He is my child."
Ms White sought to raise awareness that one in 100 babies are born with a congenital heart defect.
Hugo's heart condition meant "the whole left side of his heart is small, including his valves".
During surgery in January, he had an aortic arch repair and ASD [atrial septal defect] closure at Westmead Children's Hospital.
Ms White said the surgeons and cardiologists were "amazing".
"You can tell they really do care. They truly want the best for the child," she said.
Hugo was in ICU for two months and a cardiac ward for a month.
During this time, Hugo's dad Tyson Holding lost his job after his place of work was sold.
A GoFundMe, titled "Hugo's Journey", has been started to help the family.
Hugo went home for 10 weeks, but a follow-up echo scan showed his heart pressures were high.
He returned to hospital last month for a diagnostic procedure.
"He lost blood and went downhill. There was an issue with the ventilation machine. At one point, it wasn't working properly," Ms White said.
"He ended up in ICU and didn't bounce back. After two days, they decided to intubate him, putting tubes down his nose and throat to take over the lungs' work."
The doctors were concerned for Hugo's life, so he underwent a second open-heart surgery on May 30, called the Ross procedure, to replace his aortic valve with his own pulmonary valve.
His pulmonary valve was replaced with a donor valve.
"They've said the blood flow is looking a lot better now and his heart pressures are down," Ms White said.
"His recovery so far is a lot better than last time. Fingers crossed he keeps on that path."
Doctors have said Hugo's mitral valve will probably need replacing in future with a mechanical valve.
Now five months old, Hugo is in a ward at Westmead for children with heart conditions.
"After a big surgery, they put them on a lot of opioids like morphine and fentanyl. He's now being weaned from the drugs, which takes weeks.
"The scariest part is the recovery and the things that can go wrong after surgery. It's really hard on the little babies."
The family, including three of Hugo's four siblings, is staying at Ronald McDonald House.
"I would like to give a shout out to Ronald McDonald House and the charity HeartKids," Ms White said.
At only four days old, Hugo Holding went through open-heart surgery.
Mum Hayley White, of Cessnock, said Hugo was diagnosed with a heart condition while she was pregnant.
"We were asked if we wanted to terminate the pregnancy. That was a heartbreaking thing to be asked," Ms White said.
"No child asks to be born, but we wanted to say we did everything we could to give him a life.
"It was hard. We knew we'd be choosing to put our baby first and this would affect our other children."
She added that if "any of my children were unwell, there's not a thing I wouldn't do for them".
"I decided my unborn baby deserved that same respect. He is my child."
Ms White sought to raise awareness that one in 100 babies are born with a congenital heart defect.
Hugo's heart condition meant "the whole left side of his heart is small, including his valves".
During surgery in January, he had an aortic arch repair and ASD [atrial septal defect] closure at Westmead Children's Hospital.
Ms White said the surgeons and cardiologists were "amazing".
"You can tell they really do care. They truly want the best for the child," she said.
Hugo was in ICU for two months and a cardiac ward for a month.
During this time, Hugo's dad Tyson Holding lost his job after his place of work was sold.
A GoFundMe, titled "Hugo's Journey", has been started to help the family.
Hugo went home for 10 weeks, but a follow-up echo scan showed his heart pressures were high.
He returned to hospital last month for a diagnostic procedure.
"He lost blood and went downhill. There was an issue with the ventilation machine. At one point, it wasn't working properly," Ms White said.
"He ended up in ICU and didn't bounce back. After two days, they decided to intubate him, putting tubes down his nose and throat to take over the lungs' work."
The doctors were concerned for Hugo's life, so he underwent a second open-heart surgery on May 30, called the Ross procedure, to replace his aortic valve with his own pulmonary valve.
His pulmonary valve was replaced with a donor valve.
"They've said the blood flow is looking a lot better now and his heart pressures are down," Ms White said.
"His recovery so far is a lot better than last time. Fingers crossed he keeps on that path."
Doctors have said Hugo's mitral valve will probably need replacing in future with a mechanical valve.
Now five months old, Hugo is in a ward at Westmead for children with heart conditions.
"After a big surgery, they put them on a lot of opioids like morphine and fentanyl. He's now being weaned from the drugs, which takes weeks.
"The scariest part is the recovery and the things that can go wrong after surgery. It's really hard on the little babies."
The family, including three of Hugo's four siblings, is staying at Ronald McDonald House.
"I would like to give a shout out to Ronald McDonald House and the charity HeartKids," Ms White said.
At only four days old, Hugo Holding went through open-heart surgery.
Mum Hayley White, of Cessnock, said Hugo was diagnosed with a heart condition while she was pregnant.
"We were asked if we wanted to terminate the pregnancy. That was a heartbreaking thing to be asked," Ms White said.
"No child asks to be born, but we wanted to say we did everything we could to give him a life.
"It was hard. We knew we'd be choosing to put our baby first and this would affect our other children."
She added that if "any of my children were unwell, there's not a thing I wouldn't do for them".
"I decided my unborn baby deserved that same respect. He is my child."
Ms White sought to raise awareness that one in 100 babies are born with a congenital heart defect.
Hugo's heart condition meant "the whole left side of his heart is small, including his valves".
During surgery in January, he had an aortic arch repair and ASD [atrial septal defect] closure at Westmead Children's Hospital.
Ms White said the surgeons and cardiologists were "amazing".
"You can tell they really do care. They truly want the best for the child," she said.
Hugo was in ICU for two months and a cardiac ward for a month.
During this time, Hugo's dad Tyson Holding lost his job after his place of work was sold.
A GoFundMe, titled "Hugo's Journey", has been started to help the family.
Hugo went home for 10 weeks, but a follow-up echo scan showed his heart pressures were high.
He returned to hospital last month for a diagnostic procedure.
"He lost blood and went downhill. There was an issue with the ventilation machine. At one point, it wasn't working properly," Ms White said.
"He ended up in ICU and didn't bounce back. After two days, they decided to intubate him, putting tubes down his nose and throat to take over the lungs' work."
The doctors were concerned for Hugo's life, so he underwent a second open-heart surgery on May 30, called the Ross procedure, to replace his aortic valve with his own pulmonary valve.
His pulmonary valve was replaced with a donor valve.
"They've said the blood flow is looking a lot better now and his heart pressures are down," Ms White said.
"His recovery so far is a lot better than last time. Fingers crossed he keeps on that path."
Doctors have said Hugo's mitral valve will probably need replacing in future with a mechanical valve.
Now five months old, Hugo is in a ward at Westmead for children with heart conditions.
"After a big surgery, they put them on a lot of opioids like morphine and fentanyl. He's now being weaned from the drugs, which takes weeks.
"The scariest part is the recovery and the things that can go wrong after surgery. It's really hard on the little babies."
The family, including three of Hugo's four siblings, is staying at Ronald McDonald House.
"I would like to give a shout out to Ronald McDonald House and the charity HeartKids," Ms White said.
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The Advertiser
12 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'The scariest part is the recovery': courageous baby Hugo's fight for life
At only four days old, Hugo Holding went through open-heart surgery. Mum Hayley White, of Cessnock, said Hugo was diagnosed with a heart condition while she was pregnant. "We were asked if we wanted to terminate the pregnancy. That was a heartbreaking thing to be asked," Ms White said. "No child asks to be born, but we wanted to say we did everything we could to give him a life. "It was hard. We knew we'd be choosing to put our baby first and this would affect our other children." She added that if "any of my children were unwell, there's not a thing I wouldn't do for them". "I decided my unborn baby deserved that same respect. He is my child." Ms White sought to raise awareness that one in 100 babies are born with a congenital heart defect. Hugo's heart condition meant "the whole left side of his heart is small, including his valves". During surgery in January, he had an aortic arch repair and ASD [atrial septal defect] closure at Westmead Children's Hospital. Ms White said the surgeons and cardiologists were "amazing". "You can tell they really do care. They truly want the best for the child," she said. Hugo was in ICU for two months and a cardiac ward for a month. During this time, Hugo's dad Tyson Holding lost his job after his place of work was sold. A GoFundMe, titled "Hugo's Journey", has been started to help the family. Hugo went home for 10 weeks, but a follow-up echo scan showed his heart pressures were high. He returned to hospital last month for a diagnostic procedure. "He lost blood and went downhill. There was an issue with the ventilation machine. At one point, it wasn't working properly," Ms White said. "He ended up in ICU and didn't bounce back. After two days, they decided to intubate him, putting tubes down his nose and throat to take over the lungs' work." The doctors were concerned for Hugo's life, so he underwent a second open-heart surgery on May 30, called the Ross procedure, to replace his aortic valve with his own pulmonary valve. His pulmonary valve was replaced with a donor valve. "They've said the blood flow is looking a lot better now and his heart pressures are down," Ms White said. "His recovery so far is a lot better than last time. Fingers crossed he keeps on that path." Doctors have said Hugo's mitral valve will probably need replacing in future with a mechanical valve. Now five months old, Hugo is in a ward at Westmead for children with heart conditions. "After a big surgery, they put them on a lot of opioids like morphine and fentanyl. He's now being weaned from the drugs, which takes weeks. "The scariest part is the recovery and the things that can go wrong after surgery. It's really hard on the little babies." The family, including three of Hugo's four siblings, is staying at Ronald McDonald House. "I would like to give a shout out to Ronald McDonald House and the charity HeartKids," Ms White said. At only four days old, Hugo Holding went through open-heart surgery. Mum Hayley White, of Cessnock, said Hugo was diagnosed with a heart condition while she was pregnant. "We were asked if we wanted to terminate the pregnancy. That was a heartbreaking thing to be asked," Ms White said. "No child asks to be born, but we wanted to say we did everything we could to give him a life. "It was hard. We knew we'd be choosing to put our baby first and this would affect our other children." She added that if "any of my children were unwell, there's not a thing I wouldn't do for them". "I decided my unborn baby deserved that same respect. He is my child." Ms White sought to raise awareness that one in 100 babies are born with a congenital heart defect. Hugo's heart condition meant "the whole left side of his heart is small, including his valves". During surgery in January, he had an aortic arch repair and ASD [atrial septal defect] closure at Westmead Children's Hospital. Ms White said the surgeons and cardiologists were "amazing". "You can tell they really do care. They truly want the best for the child," she said. Hugo was in ICU for two months and a cardiac ward for a month. During this time, Hugo's dad Tyson Holding lost his job after his place of work was sold. A GoFundMe, titled "Hugo's Journey", has been started to help the family. Hugo went home for 10 weeks, but a follow-up echo scan showed his heart pressures were high. He returned to hospital last month for a diagnostic procedure. "He lost blood and went downhill. There was an issue with the ventilation machine. At one point, it wasn't working properly," Ms White said. "He ended up in ICU and didn't bounce back. After two days, they decided to intubate him, putting tubes down his nose and throat to take over the lungs' work." The doctors were concerned for Hugo's life, so he underwent a second open-heart surgery on May 30, called the Ross procedure, to replace his aortic valve with his own pulmonary valve. His pulmonary valve was replaced with a donor valve. "They've said the blood flow is looking a lot better now and his heart pressures are down," Ms White said. "His recovery so far is a lot better than last time. Fingers crossed he keeps on that path." Doctors have said Hugo's mitral valve will probably need replacing in future with a mechanical valve. Now five months old, Hugo is in a ward at Westmead for children with heart conditions. "After a big surgery, they put them on a lot of opioids like morphine and fentanyl. He's now being weaned from the drugs, which takes weeks. "The scariest part is the recovery and the things that can go wrong after surgery. It's really hard on the little babies." The family, including three of Hugo's four siblings, is staying at Ronald McDonald House. "I would like to give a shout out to Ronald McDonald House and the charity HeartKids," Ms White said. At only four days old, Hugo Holding went through open-heart surgery. Mum Hayley White, of Cessnock, said Hugo was diagnosed with a heart condition while she was pregnant. "We were asked if we wanted to terminate the pregnancy. That was a heartbreaking thing to be asked," Ms White said. "No child asks to be born, but we wanted to say we did everything we could to give him a life. "It was hard. We knew we'd be choosing to put our baby first and this would affect our other children." She added that if "any of my children were unwell, there's not a thing I wouldn't do for them". "I decided my unborn baby deserved that same respect. He is my child." Ms White sought to raise awareness that one in 100 babies are born with a congenital heart defect. Hugo's heart condition meant "the whole left side of his heart is small, including his valves". During surgery in January, he had an aortic arch repair and ASD [atrial septal defect] closure at Westmead Children's Hospital. Ms White said the surgeons and cardiologists were "amazing". "You can tell they really do care. They truly want the best for the child," she said. Hugo was in ICU for two months and a cardiac ward for a month. During this time, Hugo's dad Tyson Holding lost his job after his place of work was sold. A GoFundMe, titled "Hugo's Journey", has been started to help the family. Hugo went home for 10 weeks, but a follow-up echo scan showed his heart pressures were high. He returned to hospital last month for a diagnostic procedure. "He lost blood and went downhill. There was an issue with the ventilation machine. At one point, it wasn't working properly," Ms White said. "He ended up in ICU and didn't bounce back. After two days, they decided to intubate him, putting tubes down his nose and throat to take over the lungs' work." The doctors were concerned for Hugo's life, so he underwent a second open-heart surgery on May 30, called the Ross procedure, to replace his aortic valve with his own pulmonary valve. His pulmonary valve was replaced with a donor valve. "They've said the blood flow is looking a lot better now and his heart pressures are down," Ms White said. "His recovery so far is a lot better than last time. Fingers crossed he keeps on that path." Doctors have said Hugo's mitral valve will probably need replacing in future with a mechanical valve. Now five months old, Hugo is in a ward at Westmead for children with heart conditions. "After a big surgery, they put them on a lot of opioids like morphine and fentanyl. He's now being weaned from the drugs, which takes weeks. "The scariest part is the recovery and the things that can go wrong after surgery. It's really hard on the little babies." The family, including three of Hugo's four siblings, is staying at Ronald McDonald House. "I would like to give a shout out to Ronald McDonald House and the charity HeartKids," Ms White said. At only four days old, Hugo Holding went through open-heart surgery. Mum Hayley White, of Cessnock, said Hugo was diagnosed with a heart condition while she was pregnant. "We were asked if we wanted to terminate the pregnancy. That was a heartbreaking thing to be asked," Ms White said. "No child asks to be born, but we wanted to say we did everything we could to give him a life. "It was hard. We knew we'd be choosing to put our baby first and this would affect our other children." She added that if "any of my children were unwell, there's not a thing I wouldn't do for them". "I decided my unborn baby deserved that same respect. He is my child." Ms White sought to raise awareness that one in 100 babies are born with a congenital heart defect. Hugo's heart condition meant "the whole left side of his heart is small, including his valves". During surgery in January, he had an aortic arch repair and ASD [atrial septal defect] closure at Westmead Children's Hospital. Ms White said the surgeons and cardiologists were "amazing". "You can tell they really do care. They truly want the best for the child," she said. Hugo was in ICU for two months and a cardiac ward for a month. During this time, Hugo's dad Tyson Holding lost his job after his place of work was sold. A GoFundMe, titled "Hugo's Journey", has been started to help the family. Hugo went home for 10 weeks, but a follow-up echo scan showed his heart pressures were high. He returned to hospital last month for a diagnostic procedure. "He lost blood and went downhill. There was an issue with the ventilation machine. At one point, it wasn't working properly," Ms White said. "He ended up in ICU and didn't bounce back. After two days, they decided to intubate him, putting tubes down his nose and throat to take over the lungs' work." The doctors were concerned for Hugo's life, so he underwent a second open-heart surgery on May 30, called the Ross procedure, to replace his aortic valve with his own pulmonary valve. His pulmonary valve was replaced with a donor valve. "They've said the blood flow is looking a lot better now and his heart pressures are down," Ms White said. "His recovery so far is a lot better than last time. Fingers crossed he keeps on that path." Doctors have said Hugo's mitral valve will probably need replacing in future with a mechanical valve. Now five months old, Hugo is in a ward at Westmead for children with heart conditions. "After a big surgery, they put them on a lot of opioids like morphine and fentanyl. He's now being weaned from the drugs, which takes weeks. "The scariest part is the recovery and the things that can go wrong after surgery. It's really hard on the little babies." The family, including three of Hugo's four siblings, is staying at Ronald McDonald House. "I would like to give a shout out to Ronald McDonald House and the charity HeartKids," Ms White said.
7NEWS
5 days ago
- 7NEWS
Girl's hand ‘mostly torn off' in terrifying shark attack
A mother has recalled the horror she experienced in the moments after her young daughter was attacked by a shark. Nine-year-old Leah Lendel was bitten as she snorkelled off Boca Grande, Florida, on Wednesday, leaving her with severe injuries. Lendel's family told NBC affiliate WBBH the girl went underwater and as she came up, she started screaming. Her mother, Nadia, who was about 1.5 metres away with her two toddlers, said she saw that Leah's hand was covered in blood.. When Nadia looked over at her daughter, the family said she saw her daughter's right hand covered 'up to the wrist, all in blood and mostly torn off'. Nadia proceeded to scream for help as she ushered her three kids to shore, the family said. Meanwhile, Leah's dad, who'd been snorkelling 'some distance away', swam 'as fast as possible to shore', the Lendels said. Leah was able to walk out of the water as nearby construction workers rushed to help. 'She was walking outside with [her] hand out bleeding, like really bad. So [a co-worker] put a towel on it to stop the bleeding. And I called 911,' Raynel Lugo, one of the workers told WINK News. Witnesses the shark was about 2.4 metres in length. Police body camera from the scene shows first responders treating Leah moments after the attack. 'Hey there sweetheart, you're being very brave,' one can be heard saying in the video. Leah was airlifted to a hospital in Tampa. Nadia, a blogger with over 97,000 followers on Instagram, said she underwent a six-hour operation and is recovering well after doctors put her hand back together. 'They had to get arteries from her leg to the hand. Got the blood flow back to her hand. Install pins in bones. Still has open tissues. They will be monitoring her here for a week. But thank God she can move her fingers,' Nadia said. 'This is truly a MIRACLE,' the mother-of-five captioned a picture of her next to her daughter's hospital bed. Max Derinskiy, an uncle of Leah's who created a GoFundMe campaign to help with medical expenses, told NBC News that she will remain in the hospital for a while and then faces 'a lot of physical therapy to hopefully get her hand functioning again'. 'The doctors worked miracles and were able to put her hand back together,' he said.
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- The Advertiser
'Meaningful': Knights in shining armour for sick kids with $2m donation
The Wests Group will give $2 million to Ronald McDonald House for more crucial rooms at John Hunter Children's Hospital. The pledge is from Wests' community arm "Knights Strong". Wests Group president Geoff Coburn said supporting families in need was "central to the group's purpose". "Knights Strong reflects our commitment to standing beside the people of our region when it matters most," Mr Coburn said. Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern NSW CEO Ross Bingham said the pledge builds on a strong relationship between Wests, the Newcastle Knights and the charity house. "Their visionary support will ensure we can continue to be there for more families when they need it most," Mr Bingham said. He said Wests had made a "meaningful difference" for the charity over 20 years, while the Knights Strong partnership marked a "powerful new chapter". He had witnessed "the joy a visit from a Knights player can bring to a sick child". "It just lifts them at that exact moment when they need it," he said. The money will go towards an $8 million development to add 11 self-contained family units to the charity house. This will add to the 12 rooms and six self-contained units at the house, which is on the grounds of the hospital. "Nearly every night, 18 families live in the house while their child is in hospital," Mr Bingham said. "There's a huge unmet need. We turn away about five to six families every day." The expansion is part of the charity's Build a Bigger Heart campaign. "The extra 11 units will help support all families that need somewhere to stay, while their child is in hospital and has travelled a distance," Mr Bingham said. "Whatever support that family needs - it could be their parents, grandparents, best friend - Ronald McDonald House allows that to happen." Children with serious illnesses from the Central Coast to Northern NSW are treated at John Hunter Children's Hospital. "Having somewhere to stay near the child is vital for families," Mr Bingham said. "It means better outcomes for their child and better decisions for mum and dad. "They get good rest and most importantly can keep the family together during those tough times." He said it was an uplifting feeling when the kids were feeling good. The charity raises about $4 million a year to run its houses in Newcastle and Tamworth. It also has family rooms in John Hunter and Gosford hospitals. "We have 230 local people that are volunteers. Without them, we wouldn't be able to provide the service we do," Mr Bingham said. "They are there 24 hours a day supporting families." The Newcastle Herald reported last month that the MacDougall Foundation will give $2 million for the expansion of Ronald McDonald House in Newcastle. Former Knights star Adam MacDougall and his wife Belinda, known for creating the Man Shake and Lady Shake, own the foundation. The Wests Group will give $2 million to Ronald McDonald House for more crucial rooms at John Hunter Children's Hospital. The pledge is from Wests' community arm "Knights Strong". Wests Group president Geoff Coburn said supporting families in need was "central to the group's purpose". "Knights Strong reflects our commitment to standing beside the people of our region when it matters most," Mr Coburn said. Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern NSW CEO Ross Bingham said the pledge builds on a strong relationship between Wests, the Newcastle Knights and the charity house. "Their visionary support will ensure we can continue to be there for more families when they need it most," Mr Bingham said. He said Wests had made a "meaningful difference" for the charity over 20 years, while the Knights Strong partnership marked a "powerful new chapter". He had witnessed "the joy a visit from a Knights player can bring to a sick child". "It just lifts them at that exact moment when they need it," he said. The money will go towards an $8 million development to add 11 self-contained family units to the charity house. This will add to the 12 rooms and six self-contained units at the house, which is on the grounds of the hospital. "Nearly every night, 18 families live in the house while their child is in hospital," Mr Bingham said. "There's a huge unmet need. We turn away about five to six families every day." The expansion is part of the charity's Build a Bigger Heart campaign. "The extra 11 units will help support all families that need somewhere to stay, while their child is in hospital and has travelled a distance," Mr Bingham said. "Whatever support that family needs - it could be their parents, grandparents, best friend - Ronald McDonald House allows that to happen." Children with serious illnesses from the Central Coast to Northern NSW are treated at John Hunter Children's Hospital. "Having somewhere to stay near the child is vital for families," Mr Bingham said. "It means better outcomes for their child and better decisions for mum and dad. "They get good rest and most importantly can keep the family together during those tough times." He said it was an uplifting feeling when the kids were feeling good. The charity raises about $4 million a year to run its houses in Newcastle and Tamworth. It also has family rooms in John Hunter and Gosford hospitals. "We have 230 local people that are volunteers. Without them, we wouldn't be able to provide the service we do," Mr Bingham said. "They are there 24 hours a day supporting families." The Newcastle Herald reported last month that the MacDougall Foundation will give $2 million for the expansion of Ronald McDonald House in Newcastle. Former Knights star Adam MacDougall and his wife Belinda, known for creating the Man Shake and Lady Shake, own the foundation. The Wests Group will give $2 million to Ronald McDonald House for more crucial rooms at John Hunter Children's Hospital. The pledge is from Wests' community arm "Knights Strong". Wests Group president Geoff Coburn said supporting families in need was "central to the group's purpose". "Knights Strong reflects our commitment to standing beside the people of our region when it matters most," Mr Coburn said. Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern NSW CEO Ross Bingham said the pledge builds on a strong relationship between Wests, the Newcastle Knights and the charity house. "Their visionary support will ensure we can continue to be there for more families when they need it most," Mr Bingham said. He said Wests had made a "meaningful difference" for the charity over 20 years, while the Knights Strong partnership marked a "powerful new chapter". He had witnessed "the joy a visit from a Knights player can bring to a sick child". "It just lifts them at that exact moment when they need it," he said. The money will go towards an $8 million development to add 11 self-contained family units to the charity house. This will add to the 12 rooms and six self-contained units at the house, which is on the grounds of the hospital. "Nearly every night, 18 families live in the house while their child is in hospital," Mr Bingham said. "There's a huge unmet need. We turn away about five to six families every day." The expansion is part of the charity's Build a Bigger Heart campaign. "The extra 11 units will help support all families that need somewhere to stay, while their child is in hospital and has travelled a distance," Mr Bingham said. "Whatever support that family needs - it could be their parents, grandparents, best friend - Ronald McDonald House allows that to happen." Children with serious illnesses from the Central Coast to Northern NSW are treated at John Hunter Children's Hospital. "Having somewhere to stay near the child is vital for families," Mr Bingham said. "It means better outcomes for their child and better decisions for mum and dad. "They get good rest and most importantly can keep the family together during those tough times." He said it was an uplifting feeling when the kids were feeling good. The charity raises about $4 million a year to run its houses in Newcastle and Tamworth. It also has family rooms in John Hunter and Gosford hospitals. "We have 230 local people that are volunteers. Without them, we wouldn't be able to provide the service we do," Mr Bingham said. "They are there 24 hours a day supporting families." The Newcastle Herald reported last month that the MacDougall Foundation will give $2 million for the expansion of Ronald McDonald House in Newcastle. Former Knights star Adam MacDougall and his wife Belinda, known for creating the Man Shake and Lady Shake, own the foundation. The Wests Group will give $2 million to Ronald McDonald House for more crucial rooms at John Hunter Children's Hospital. The pledge is from Wests' community arm "Knights Strong". Wests Group president Geoff Coburn said supporting families in need was "central to the group's purpose". "Knights Strong reflects our commitment to standing beside the people of our region when it matters most," Mr Coburn said. Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern NSW CEO Ross Bingham said the pledge builds on a strong relationship between Wests, the Newcastle Knights and the charity house. "Their visionary support will ensure we can continue to be there for more families when they need it most," Mr Bingham said. He said Wests had made a "meaningful difference" for the charity over 20 years, while the Knights Strong partnership marked a "powerful new chapter". He had witnessed "the joy a visit from a Knights player can bring to a sick child". "It just lifts them at that exact moment when they need it," he said. The money will go towards an $8 million development to add 11 self-contained family units to the charity house. This will add to the 12 rooms and six self-contained units at the house, which is on the grounds of the hospital. "Nearly every night, 18 families live in the house while their child is in hospital," Mr Bingham said. "There's a huge unmet need. We turn away about five to six families every day." The expansion is part of the charity's Build a Bigger Heart campaign. "The extra 11 units will help support all families that need somewhere to stay, while their child is in hospital and has travelled a distance," Mr Bingham said. "Whatever support that family needs - it could be their parents, grandparents, best friend - Ronald McDonald House allows that to happen." Children with serious illnesses from the Central Coast to Northern NSW are treated at John Hunter Children's Hospital. "Having somewhere to stay near the child is vital for families," Mr Bingham said. "It means better outcomes for their child and better decisions for mum and dad. "They get good rest and most importantly can keep the family together during those tough times." He said it was an uplifting feeling when the kids were feeling good. The charity raises about $4 million a year to run its houses in Newcastle and Tamworth. It also has family rooms in John Hunter and Gosford hospitals. "We have 230 local people that are volunteers. Without them, we wouldn't be able to provide the service we do," Mr Bingham said. "They are there 24 hours a day supporting families." The Newcastle Herald reported last month that the MacDougall Foundation will give $2 million for the expansion of Ronald McDonald House in Newcastle. Former Knights star Adam MacDougall and his wife Belinda, known for creating the Man Shake and Lady Shake, own the foundation.
