Mandy Johnson lives with spina bifida and spent the first 21 years of her life calling the RCH her second home.
She’s running a fundraiser this year to support the amazing people who supported her for so many years.
“I was born on February 9, 1988, at Essendon Hospital with myelomeningocele (spina bifida),” Mandy said.
“Before I was born, my parents were blissfully unaware that I had a disability.
“In fact, it was not until I was born that my parents were informed that I had a disability.”
Prior to that moment, her parents had no clue what myelomeningocele, or spina bifida, was.
“No-one in my family could even pronounce it,” she said.
However, that was the least of their worries as in the hours after she was born, she had to be transferred to the RCH, where she was placed in a humidicrib, a type of incubator often used for the care of premature babies.
After some months, things started to look slightly better, and Mandy was discharged from RCH.
“(Only) three weeks after (that), the surgical team at the Royal Children’s Hospital informed my mother and father that I needed surgery,” she said.
“I needed a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt inserted and attached to my brain to help the fluid drain, as it was unable to drain automatically.
“I spent my entire childhood and teenage years as an outpatient at RCH, and it was not until I turned 21 that I was transferred to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Children's Specialist Centre in Parkville.”
Looking back to her time at RCH, Mandy said she doesn’t remember everyone who helped her.
“But I do recall a few faces, and from what I remember, they were amazing.”
Mandy’s family has been donating to the Good Friday Appeal every year since she was born.
“They’ve donated in any way they could,” she said.
“I have donated myself for a few years now, but personally, this is just the second year I’ve been fundraising myself.”
Mandy said the fundraiser is not just about supporting the people that supported her. It’s about the thousands of other young people that RCH looks after.
“They have helped so many kids and young adults just like me,” she said.
Mandy said it’s nice to live in a place like the Rose City which is known for going over and above to do its bit to help initiatives like the Good Friday Appeal.
You can find out more about Mandy and donate to her GFA fundraiser by visiting
fundraise.goodfridayappeal.com.au/fundraisers/helpmandyraisemoney/
