Graphic: Augie in Hospital
Flying Doctor Podcast Episode #85:
Caring for a sick child is always a challenge.
But for many families living in regional and remote Australia, the added complexities of even accessing health care appointments and the need to often travel long distances to specialist surfaces can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience.
But sometimes, as in the case of Broken Hill’s Augie Keenan, such delays in diagnosis can also be potentially life-threatening.
When Augie’s Mum, Danielle, first noticed her normally bubbly and energetic daughter was becoming more and more lethargic and shedding weight from her already skinny frame, she immediately knew something wasn’t right.
After receiving an initial test and diagnosis for a urinary tract infection, it wasn’t until a week later – with Augie still unwell and not responding to any medications - that a letter finally arrived, asking the family to return to the clinic to discuss Augie’s blood test results.
With no immediate Doctor’s appointments available and Augie’s health rapidly deteriorating, an understandably anxious Danielle inevitably turned to Dr Google – quickly determining her daughter’s symptoms could only mean one thing.
What followed was a frightening trip to the emergency department of their local hospital, followed by a 600km RFDS mercy dash from Broken Hill to Adelaide for specialist treatment.
In this fascinating and insightful episode #85 of the Flying Doctor Podcast, we explore the extraordinary emerging science around Type 1 diabetes and the ongoing emotional challenges faced by children and families just like Augie and her mum.
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