Swine flu teen to lose feet
9:30a.m. 8th September 2009
| By Kathy Sundstrom
Swine flu teen to lose feet
A Sunshine Coast teenager has been told her feet will have to be amputated in a desperate attempt to save her life after she contracted swine flu and pneumonia.
Fiona Summersides, 18, has been fighting for her life at Brisbane?s Prince Charles and Wesley hospitals.
She developed ?flu-like? symptoms on July 24. Three days later she was admitted to Nambour General Hospital where her health deteriorated rapidly.
Within a week, her father, Terry, was told his precious child might die.
An emotional Terry said his brave girl had fought back and they were working to replan the future.
Fiona tearfully said she just wanted her life back and that she was scared of the operations which would take away her feet.
?I?ve never had an operation before. I?ve had nightmares,? she said.
Sunshine Coast businesses have already begun to rally around the family, who will need a new home, a new car and a whole new range of services to cope.
Habits restaurant in Cotton Tree raised about $7000 at a fundraiser on the weekend and Terry?s employer, Grant Byrne, of Literoc, is helping to coordinate the fundraising efforts.
Terry said he was blown away by the generous support of the community and he was ?just rapt? to be by his daughter?s bedside last night.
?They?re not going to take her feet off straight away. They are trying to save as much of the left foot as possible,? Terry said.
The operation is planned for ?within the next two weeks?.
?As long as dad?s around she should be able to handle it,? Terry said.
Terry said he had been told Fiona, who turned 18 on July 30 in hospital, ?only had 12 hours to live? as there was no blood thinning machine to treat her in Brisbane.
?One was made available and two doctors and a paramedic from Nambour Hospital brought her to the hospital as they couldn?t put her in a helicopter because of the cabin pressure.
?They have been trying to regenerate the tissue on the bottom of her feet by putting her in a diving chamber.?
Terry said he had a wonderful Father?s Day as he was able to take his daughter out of hospital and wheel her around a shopping centre.
?She is the best daughter,? he said.
Terry has been travelling back and forth between his Wurtulla home and Brisbane every day since Fiona was admitted.
He had scoffed at the potential dangers of swine flu, until it hit home.
?I thought it was nothing and when people took off work for it I thought it was soft. Then it happens to you ... incredible,? he said.
The Queensland Housing commission is helping Terry and Fiona find a new home.
A senior social worker from Prince Charles Hospital has sent a letter to the housing commission stating the family?s special needs.
The outcome of Fiona?s illness would initially be emotionally and physically overwhelming, the letter said.
9:30a.m. 8th September 2009
| By Kathy Sundstrom
Swine flu teen to lose feet
A Sunshine Coast teenager has been told her feet will have to be amputated in a desperate attempt to save her life after she contracted swine flu and pneumonia.
Fiona Summersides, 18, has been fighting for her life at Brisbane?s Prince Charles and Wesley hospitals.
She developed ?flu-like? symptoms on July 24. Three days later she was admitted to Nambour General Hospital where her health deteriorated rapidly.
Within a week, her father, Terry, was told his precious child might die.
An emotional Terry said his brave girl had fought back and they were working to replan the future.
Fiona tearfully said she just wanted her life back and that she was scared of the operations which would take away her feet.
?I?ve never had an operation before. I?ve had nightmares,? she said.
Sunshine Coast businesses have already begun to rally around the family, who will need a new home, a new car and a whole new range of services to cope.
Habits restaurant in Cotton Tree raised about $7000 at a fundraiser on the weekend and Terry?s employer, Grant Byrne, of Literoc, is helping to coordinate the fundraising efforts.
Terry said he was blown away by the generous support of the community and he was ?just rapt? to be by his daughter?s bedside last night.
?They?re not going to take her feet off straight away. They are trying to save as much of the left foot as possible,? Terry said.
The operation is planned for ?within the next two weeks?.
?As long as dad?s around she should be able to handle it,? Terry said.
Terry said he had been told Fiona, who turned 18 on July 30 in hospital, ?only had 12 hours to live? as there was no blood thinning machine to treat her in Brisbane.
?One was made available and two doctors and a paramedic from Nambour Hospital brought her to the hospital as they couldn?t put her in a helicopter because of the cabin pressure.
?They have been trying to regenerate the tissue on the bottom of her feet by putting her in a diving chamber.?
Terry said he had a wonderful Father?s Day as he was able to take his daughter out of hospital and wheel her around a shopping centre.
?She is the best daughter,? he said.
Terry has been travelling back and forth between his Wurtulla home and Brisbane every day since Fiona was admitted.
He had scoffed at the potential dangers of swine flu, until it hit home.
?I thought it was nothing and when people took off work for it I thought it was soft. Then it happens to you ... incredible,? he said.
The Queensland Housing commission is helping Terry and Fiona find a new home.
A senior social worker from Prince Charles Hospital has sent a letter to the housing commission stating the family?s special needs.
The outcome of Fiona?s illness would initially be emotionally and physically overwhelming, the letter said.
