Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick

28/07/2025

At just 16, Lily received the ultimate gift - a kidney from her dad, Scott, nicknamed the "super kidney". 💚

When Lily was 14, she began experiencing painful, two-week-long periods and extreme fatigue. What she thought was just part of growing up turned out to be far more serious - her kidneys were failing.

Despite treatment, her condition worsened, and by 16, Lily needed a transplant. Scott, lovingly known in the family as “Mr Fix It”, stepped up to donate.

Lily received her life-saving transplant at our hospital. Just nine days after surgery, she was able to return home, beginning two months of monitoring to ensure her body accepted the new kidney.

Today, with her dad's "super kidney", Lily trains daily as a cyclist and has her sights set on the 2026 World Transplant Games. For her, cycling is more than sport - it's a celebration of her second chance at life and a way to honour the gift her dad gave her. 🚴‍♀️💪

This DonateLife Week is a powerful reminder about the importance of signing up to be an organ donor and discussing your decision with your family.

Anyone ages 16 and over can register to become an organ donor and it takes just one minute. Visit donatelife.gov.au

25/07/2025

With flu season upon us, it's more important than ever to separate fact from fiction. The flu can have serious consequences - even for healthy children.

Dr Phoebe Williams, Paediatrician and Infectious Diseases Physician, has teamed up with Mamamia to debunk some of the myths surrounding the flu.

"When we look at the data for children that are hospitalised due to the flu or who die from the flu, almost two-thirds of those kids are otherwise healthy children," Dr Williams said.

The flu vaccine is free for children under 5 years and is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over. Book your flu vaccine at your GP or pharmacy today.

Read more in the comments.

24/07/2025

CHAMPIONS4CHILDREN | "I get the chance to make therapy fun and engaging. Seeing kids enjoying therapy and developing skills is so rewarding.

I am the Team Leader of Occupational Therapy in Rehab2Kids. I work with children and young people with brain and spinal cord injuries to help them get home, back to school, and doing the activities they like to do.

A typical day in my role includes providing therapy for inpatients, planning their discharge, equipment trials, and conducting home and school visits. Therapy sessions can include working on self-care, play skills, hand skills, and school tasks, or helping children and their families access the community again.

As therapists, we meet patients during some of the most challenging times of their lives. It's rewarding to know we can help make a big difference in their recovery and future." - Catherine O'Sullivan, Team Leader of Occupational Therapy in Rehab2Kids.

23/07/2025

Transport yourself to the year 2040. How does the world around you look and feel? How are people caring for one another?

NSW Health is inviting young people in Years 7-10 to imagine and design what healthcare in NSW could look like in the year 2040 and to share their vision through storytelling, science, art and innovation.

Participants will be given a Canva template that outlines what they need to do, as well as some handy resources to help them design a rich, detailed world. The only rule? Their future must reflect the health workforce, workplace, or healthcare in 2040—and it must be bright! 🌟

To get your young person involved, head to https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/workforce/future/future-health-worldbuilding-comp/Pages/future-health-worldbuilding-guide.aspx

🗓️ Submissions open 11 August and close 25 September. A finalist event will be held on 3 November.

22/07/2025

Researchers at our hospital have found a new cost-effective testing method to support family planning for those living with rare genetic disease, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)🔬

TSC is an incurable multi-system genetic condition that causes non-cancerous tumours to grow in parts of the body including the brain, heart and lungs. The condition has a 50% chance of being passed down from parent to child and until recently, has been difficult to genetically diagnose without using deep genomic sequencing.

In a new study, Dr Clara Chung, Clinical Geneticist at our hospital, trialled a partial deep genomic sequencing method and found that it not only worked, but it was also more cost effective and cut testing time in half.

The success of the trial has since seen a similar testing method implemented at the Randwick precinct, giving parents living with the condition access to vital information to assist with family planning.

Read more on our website⬇️

21/07/2025

🚨 In NSW there has been a high number of children getting meningococcal ahead of the peak season.

Meningococcal is a medical emergency and children need to be treated in hospital.

Learn the symptoms of meningococcal in babies and children and how to protect them: https://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/meningococcal-infection-factsheet

🚑 In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) or go to your nearest Emergency Department.

18/07/2025

GRADUATION DAY 🎓 | Today, nine remarkable long-term patients celebrated a huge milestone as they transitioned from our hospital to the adult health care system.

Our bi-annual patient graduation ceremony is a meaningful moment for patients, families, and staff alike. It's a chance to reflect, share stories and messages of thanks, and celebrate how far our grads have come.

Congratulations to today's graduates on this significant achievement! From everyone at our hospital, best wishes for everything ahead. 🌟

Special thanks to co-hosts Dr Sean Kennedy and the Captains Starlight of Starlight Children's Foundation, and our volunteers for making today's event possible.

17/07/2025

Children and families from across our hospitals had the chance to explore the magic of Bubble Planet – a sensory universe where science meets imagination and bubbles come to life.

From giant glowing domes to dreamy interactive zones, every moment was filled with wide-eyed wonder.

Thank you to the team at Bubble Planet Experience for making this unforgettable experience possible.

16/07/2025

At just 17-years-old, Emily is leading both on and off the field.

The Taren Point Titans Female Club Captain has set herself a personal and heartfelt goal this season - to run in the City2Surf and raise funds for the Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation

For Emily, this challenge is more than just a charity run, it's her way to say thank you for the lifesaving treatment she received after being diagnosed with leukaemia at age four.

"I will be forever grateful for the extraordinary care I received at Sydney Children's Hospital. I not only survived, I found my purpose. Now, I'm giving back to the place that gave me a second chance," Emily said.

Read more about Emily's story via the link below.

Titans Female Club Captain, Emily is running in City2Surf for Children's Hospital.

15/07/2025

CHAMPIONS4CHILDREN | "I was drawn to paediatrics during my very first student placement. I loved the holistic approach to caring for children and young people to support them through their health journey.

I’m currently working across two roles: Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) in Acute Pain, and Acting Educator on the C3South adolescent ward. In my CNC role, I support patients with effective pain management strategies, so they can return to their normal daily routines. I also provide clinical assistance with ward-based procedural sedations and conduct follow-up care for patients discharged with pain management plans. In my educator role on C3S, I support skill development, education, and learning on the ward to help guide new nurses as they begin their paediatric journey.

One of my favourite memories was working with a patient during his recovery from a BMX accident. The injury had left him unable to walk, and I had the opportunity to work closely with him every day as he focused on his rehabilitation. He showed a lot of resilience in adjusting to his new mobility, and it was rewarding to see that progress day-to-day. Being involved in milestones, like seeing him use his motorised wheelchair for the first time was a privilege, as it gave him a new sense of independence." - Sean Pay, Clinical Nurse Educator in Acute Pain/ C3S Acting Educator.

14/07/2025

This little guy in the video has a very important message for you.

Smoking and va**ng are dangerous — for everyone. As an adult, that’s your choice but kids don’t get to choose what they breathe in.

When adults smoke or v**e around children, little lungs inhale the same harmful chemicals, and it can make them seriously sick.

Please, stay smoke and v**e-free around kids.

10/07/2025

| "I am very privileged to work at Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network. It is a vibrant and bubbly place— and the staff are the same, as they strive for better patient care in children.

I am the Data Lead for the Clinical Trial Management System (or CTMS) at the Network, which means I support our clinical trial units to make sure we meet our data reporting needs.

After two weeks of starting with the Network, I felt like I had been part of the team for months! I hit the ground running with constant support around me. My day-to-day involves meeting with the clinical trial staff to capture study metrics and maintain compliance in the CTMS platform.

The most rewarding thing for me is the day-to-day opportunities I have in meeting with our many clinical trial staff and their teams. I am very fortunate to hear about the latest therapeutics being trialled and to be involved in conversations about how to build studies in a way that work to ensure efficient data reporting.

Although I may not be meeting patients, it is also amazing to hear from the trial teams and how these trials have helped their patients." - Grace Micali, CTMS Data Lead