From hospital bed to marionette master.
- Perth Children's Hospital Foundation
From hospital bed to marionette master.
- Perth Children's Hospital Foundation
Landen found joy in marionette puppetry while recovering in hospital, following a traumatic dishwasher accident.
Landen, 10, discovered a hidden talent on his first day out of his hospital bed – he’s a natural at marionette puppetry.
Landen’s newfound passion came after taking part in a creative workshop with the Di Filippo School of Puppetry, part of the Arts Program funded by the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation (PCHF). His talent was uncovered thanks to the PCHF-funded Artist in Residence program, which brings professional artists, creative workshops, and performances to kids like Landen.
Landen had been recovering at Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) after a freak accident, when a steak knife became lodged in his back after he fell backwards into an open dishwasher while making a toastie at his home in Mandurah. Doctors explained that just a millimetre’s difference, and Landen could have been paralysed.
It took several hours of delicate teamwork from PCH’s specialist neurosurgery and orthopaedic medical teams to safely remove the knife and ensure there was no lasting nerve damage. Thanks to their expert care, Landen has made a remarkable recovery, and he’s now proudly sporting his ‘battle wound’ as he heads back to school this week.
Landen’s mother, Emma, said she was incredibly grateful for the care Landen received, and urged other families to never stack knives facing up in the dishwasher – an important reminder learned the hard way.
“Stacking the dishwasher is something so mundane that most people don’t think twice about it, but it goes to show how even the smallest actions can have a huge impact,” she said. “Despite being such a traumatic event for our family, everyone at PCH was lovely. It really was the best outcome we could have hoped for.”
Carrick Robinson, CEO of the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation, praised hospital staff for their role in Landen’s recovery.
“It’s wonderful to see Landen doing so well after going through such a traumatic accident, thanks to the world-class care he received at PCH,” said Mr Robinson.
“Despite Landen having a very tough few days at PCH, it’s also a positive to see him discover a new talent during his stay. Creative workshops, like those provided through the Artist in Residence program, not only provide kids like Landen with a much-needed distraction, they also help to boost mental health, ease anxiety, and build social connections.”
Grateful for the support they received, Emma encouraged others to consider supporting PCHF, saying, “The overall experience we had throughout Landen’s hospital stay turned a traumatic experience into something positive. If we can prevent even one other family from going through what we did, that would mean the world to us.”
Help create more positive experiences for WA kids like Landen, donate at pchf.org.au/donate
