Matthew lands safely after a fall

Aggression was not a trait attributed to the character of eleven year old Matthew Lane. A mild mannered and generally happy child, Matthew was definitely not himself after suffering a head injury from a fall at school. His mother, Michelle, sat with him until an ambulance arrived at Matthew’s primary school, watching on as her son became increasingly agitated, disoriented and scared. At this stage, the extent of Matthew’s injuries were unknown.

He was transported to Lithgow Hospital where he underwent tests and scans to determine the severity of the damage done in the fall.

It was established that the eleven year old needed to receive intensive care treatment, with doctors calling in the Telstra Child Flight team soon after admitting Matthew to hospital.

Michelle said “While I was unable to travel with Matthew on the chopper, knowing how professional and efficient both the medical staff and pilots were, really helped calm my nerves.”

Matthew was transported to Westmead Children’s Hospital, where he spent two days, closely monitored in intensive care. He also underwent rehabilitation to ensure that the long term damage was not serious. Rehabilitation staff encouraged Matthew to recall stories and walk in a straight line, testing his memory and coordination, which were unaffected by the incident.

After a short recovery period, Matthew was able to return to school, completing a week of half days, before returning to class full time. A few months on Matthew shows no signs of his ordeal, enjoying his soccer, cricket athletics and wild life adventures as he always had.

“I would like to thank the team for the care and attention my child received. Their calmness and ability to clearly explain what was going on with my child must be applauded. Thank you for your wonderful service.”