Supporting young hearts.
- Perth Children's Hospital Foundation
Supporting young hearts.
- Perth Children's Hospital Foundation
Funding world-class cardiology equipment and technology for WA kids.
When we first shared Noah’s story a few years back, he had just been diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome, a genetic condition causing rapid, chaotic heartbeats that can potentially result in ‘fainting’ and life-threatening seizures, especially during times of physical activity or stress. Not long after his diagnosis, Noah had a critical incident while swimming at a friend’s house.
Thankfully, a recently purchased community defibrillator (AED) saved his life. Noah’s heart was shocked to correct its rhythm, and after an ambulance took him to hospital, he had two further cardiac arrests. It was a scary time, but Noah pulled through, and thanks to PCHF, he received two personal AEDs – one for school and one to carry with him everywhere else.
Now, at 17, Noah is thriving. This year, he returned to playing footy, won a sports award, is preparing to graduate and hopes to soon start an apprenticeship. While Noah continues to attend check-ups at Perth Children’s Hospital, he hasn’t needed to use his AEDs yet. But knowing they’re always there helps to give Noah and his family peace of mind.
His mum, Fiona, shared: “Having the AEDs takes away some of that stress and worry about Noah’s heart condition. We’re forever grateful to PCHF for providing Noah with the defibrillators.”
In addition, the dedicated Cardiology team at PCH performs over 5,000 heart ultrasounds (echocardiograms) each year, diagnosing and managing heart disease in kids.
Supporting these young patients is Katie Maslin, a PCH Echocardiographer who plays a crucial role in diagnosing and managing heart disease in kids and teens. She is pictured below with two state-of-the-art cardiac ultrasound probes, which were funded by PCHF, thanks to the support of our generous donors, ToyBox Australia.
Thanks to these upgraded probes, clinicians like Katie can provide higher quality, more accurate diagnoses, particularly for our youngest and most vulnerable patients, using advanced real-time 3D imaging.
This equipment is vital for high-risk surgical patients, helping to ensure that their heart can safely cope under general anaesthetic. In addition, the probes also support essential cardiac research and training for future specialists, including cardiology fellows and junior sonographers.
By investing in equipment like AEDs for families in need and advanced ultrasound technology, PCHF is dedicated to enhancing quality of care for WA kids with heart conditions.
Support world-class care for WA kids with heart-related conditions, click here to donate to Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation today.
