13-year-old Seimelli spent one week in Townsville University Hospital’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), including six days on life support, after being diagnosed with Melioidosis.

Melioidosis is a disease caused by bacteria called Burkholderia pseudomallei. During the dry season the bacterium is found in deeper soil layers, but during the wet season and after heavy rain it can be found in the surface soil layers and in muddy surface waters. This is why most cases of melioidosis occur during the wet season after heavy rain and flooding.

The bacterium that causes melioidosis usually enters the body via cuts and sores in the skin, or via inhalation of dust or droplets.

Seimelli’s mother, Ena, explained the worrying symptoms she noticed in her daughter.  

“It started off with lung inflammation. She had pains in her chest and her back. She was walking sideways. And then she started getting muscle pains,” Ena explained.

“During the day she wasn’t getting any temps, but she was getting temps at night. Then ongoing muscle pains, and then calf muscle pains, and then she just couldn’t walk.”

Living in the remote Badu Island in the Torres Strait, Seimelli, her dad Barry and Ena were urgently transported via Helicopter to Thursday Island Hospital.

“We waited in Thursday Island for the [Royal Flying Doctor Service]. Doctors were putting cannulas in her, getting us ready to fly down to Townsville... I didn’t even have an idea of where I was going to stay,” Ena explained.

Once Seimelli and Ena arrived in Townsville, they went straight to PICU, where Seimelli stayed for one week. Seimelli was put on life support while in PICU to help ensure her antibiotics were administered effectively.

“The day we got here I was seen by two Social Workers [at the Hospital], they requested accommodation for [us] here at Ronald McDonald House.”

Ena and Barry were accommodated at Ronald McDonald House after arriving in Townsville, where they were just a short walk away from Seimelli at Townsville University Hospital. 

“It’s so easy at Ronald McDonald House. It’s close. It’s just across the road from the Hospital,” Ena explained.

“They help us with food, good company, lovely staff – they’re very welcoming. The volunteers are really nice. They’re always asking if you’re ok.”

Two of Seimelli’s siblings, Barry and Larvo, were also accommodated while their sister continued to get stronger in Hospital. 

“They make the kids [feel] welcome too; the family. There’s a playground and everything for Seimelli’s siblings, for her little brothers to play in.”

Being just a short walk away from the Hospital gave Ena and Barry welcome relief.

“It really helped because I stayed in the Hospital with Seimelli, while my family stayed here at Ronald McDonald House. In the morning they just came and swapped with me, so they could sit with her while I came over to get a rest here,” Ena explained.

Once she was strong enough, Seimelli was transferred to the Children’s Ward, where she continued to receive vital treatment.

“The only time Seimelli got off the bed was when the physio was there,” Ena said.

When visiting Seimelli at the Hospital, Ena and Barry were able to use the Ronald McDonald Family Room.

“The Family Room was a big help. The day Seimelli started to eat, I took notice there was only one [food] tray.”

Ena went to the Ronald McDonald Family Room, located within the Children’s Ward, so she could have a free meal while visiting Seimelli.

“My favourite part was the pancakes. That’s all I ate! When Seimelli was having breakfast, I just told her I’m going over to the Family Room, that’s where I had my breakfast, and then I came back.”

The volunteers at the Family Room made a big difference for Ena.

[It] makes you [feel] pretty spoilt though, because when you go to the Family Room, the ladies like to do everything for you. It makes you feel bad though, I want to do it myself! [The volunteers say] ‘No, I’ll do it, I’ll wash it.’”

The RMHC Hospitality Cart, stocked with snacks, beverages, toiletries and more, helped further lift the burden for Seimelli and her family.  

“When Seimelli started eating, she liked getting snacks from [the RMHC Hospitality Cart]. We would mainly just stick to the water bottles and the fruit,” Ena explained.

Once Seimelli was discharged from the Hospital, she stayed with her family at Ronald McDonald House. Nurses visited her twice daily to administer Intravenous (IV) antibiotics.

In between visits from the Nurses, Seimelli and her family had some downtime at Ronald McDonald House.

“We used the barbeque area. Seimelli goes to school at [Saint Patrick's College]; she’s a border here, so she’s been getting visitors from her house parents and students from the boarding [school],” Ena said.

Being able to confide in other parents going through similar situations had a real impact on Ena. 

“While I’ve been staying here, I’ve been chatting with the parents. It’s sad hearing what parents are going through. And this is a big help. It really helps. When I see new parents come in and hear about a lot of different diseases from parents; I thought Seimelli had it serious. We’re all just yarning about it and just crying.”

While Seimelli and her family have gone through a tough ordeal, Ena and Barry are thankful they were able to rely on RMHC North Australia during their time of need.

“I’m really grateful. Seeing what they do. It’s all for the children. I thank them from the bottom of my heart, God bless them for everything they do,” Ena said.

“I just want to say a big thank you to all the staff at Ronald McDonald House. It was a really big help for us. Coming all the way from the Islands, getting down there, your support was a really big help for my kids, and Seimelli; I don’t know how to thank you, but it’s just a really big help,” said Barry.

“I really appreciate you all, all the staff there. All the workers there. The accommodation really helped us financially, it was a really big help. Thank you for all the help you gave us.”