Nayline, an 11-year-old girl from Vanuatu, was born with severe kyphoscoliosis (an abnormal curvature of the spine occurring in two planes). In addition to having to contend with an increasingly rounded and hunched appearance, over time Nayline’s condition has begun to compromise her growth and overall health.

Nayline arrived in Sydney recently with her father Henry for life-changing medical treatment. She received specialist care at the Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, led by the orthopaedic team of Dr Angus Gray, who has a special interest in scoliosis.

Nayline underwent a two-stage surgical process. Stage 1involved a disc release and the application of halo-gravity traction.  This stage lasted four weeks, with Nayline remaining in hospital to allow the traction to straighten up her back. The second stage of Nayline’s treatment, a posterior spinal fusion, in early March was to stabilise and support her spine, significantly improving her quality of life.

Henry stayed at Ronald McDonald House so that he was close to Nayline whilst she was in hospital.  After nearly five weeks in traction at the hospital followed by successful spinal surgery, and Nayline was able to join him after being discharged.  They both returned home to Vanuatu at the end of March.

 

Botany Randwick Rotary Club members have been involved in the care and support of Nayline and Henry during their stay in Randwick. 

The Rotary Club of Botany Randwick has recently renewed its sponsorship of a family accommodation room at Ronald McDonald House, Randwick.

 

Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home for families of children from rural and regional NSW who are undergoing treatment at the Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick.

 

In 2024, our room provided accommodation for 70 different families, with the longest stay being 36 days.  Those families came from places like Goulburn, Wagga Wagga and Dubbo.

 

Our relationship with Ronald McDonald House goes back at least 20 years.  The arrangement is reciprocated with the House providing accommodation for children and their guardians who are being treated under the Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) program.  11 year old Nayline and her dad, Henry, from Vanuatu, are currently staying there whilst Nayline undergoes treatment for scoliosis.

 

As well as sponsoring Room 20, the Club also provides a family meal.  Last year this took the form of a BBQ, where we catered for 80 people staying at the House.  This was greatly appreciated by the many families staying there, especially after returning from a long day attending to their children up at the hospital.  Not having to worry about then preparing a meal was a blessing for them.  And there were enough left overs for a cook-up the following day!