SYDNEY ANGELS RESCUE TINY AUSSIE BATTLER

Born eleven weeks premature in the John Hunter Hospital Newcastle, baby Dacian Andrews weighed only 720gms [1lb 2oz].  Miraculously he won his first struggle for life but on day five a tube had to be inserted into his tiny stomach to counteract severe swelling and discolouration. Unfortunately this failed to solve his problem and surgery was performed to fix a perforated bowel and perform a colostomy.

Hoping that everything would be fine, parents Rebecca and Matthew were then looking forward to the day they could take their tiny son back home to Inverell.

Unfortunately, at four months old Dacian developed severe jaundice and during surgery to close the colostomy, a liver biopsy showed that he had bile duct hypoplasia.

“This meant that Dacian’s small bile ducts don’t work properly,” his mother Rebecca said.

“It was all very scary as we were told that he would probably need a liver transplant but they would try and hold this off as long as possible, perhaps until he’s about four years old or when it’s absolutely necessary.”

Dacian was immediately started on a regime of medication to help produce bile.  He also needed to be given vitamin supplements because of his inability to absorb vitamins naturally.

“We were finally able to bring our baby home after 18 weeks in hospital,” Rebecca said.

“That was last December, but we only had him home a week and then had to take him back to the hospital for blood tests so they could see how he was going.”

At seven months old, Dacian weighs just 5kg and for the next few years he will have to return to Newcastle every three months for further blood tests and for the Liver Specialist to monitor his progress.

Faced with regular long and tiring road trips to Newcastle with a sick baby and limited finances, Rebecca said she was relieved when she was told that Angel Flight pilots were willing to fly the family to and from Newcastle absolutely free.

“We really are struggling financially as Matthew has had very little work since Dacian was born and there’s also the cost of the medications,” Rebecca said.

“Last time we took him to the Hospital my parents took us in their car but it was hot and hard on Dacian and we can’t really afford the petrol, so this has made it a lot easier and we really appreciate what Angel Flight has done for us.”

Whilst Rebecca was extremely happy about being flown to Newcastle she admitted that she was a bit apprehensive about going in a plane as this was only her second flight, the first one being when she was flown to Newcastle after she went into premature labour.

But she was in safe hands and received a lot of reassurance and support from the Angel Flight Pilots who volunteered to transport the family.

This story appearing in the Sydney Weekly 30/03/05.

Alex Baldwin - Pilot

Kim Bengs - Earth Angel
(Kim's 1st mission)

	Robert Rodgers , registered Angel Flight pilot, generously donated the use of his aircraft.

Angel flight by Alex Baldwin
Previous mission for Alex - M200 AF2

At the controls for the flight to Newcastle is Sydney Finance Broker, Alex Baldwin, for whom this was his second Angel Flight Mission.   

Alex said his interest in flying started when he won a model polystyrene plane at an air show when he was quite young.

“Mum said that if I really wanted a model plane then I should have a better one and immediately went out and bought me one,” he said.

“I was so fascinated with the concept of flight that I joined the Air League when I was about thirteen and was involved for six or seven years. I then started flying gliders and when I was old enough upgraded to light aircraft and in fact got my restricted pilot’s licence before I finished school at 17. I actually went solo in a plane before doing so in a car.”

When asked what motivated him to join Angel Flight he said it was really good to be able to use his skills for the benefit of others.

“I love flying and am always looking for ways to fly regularly but most of the flights lack real purpose whereas an Angel Flight Mission really helps people. My first Mission was great. It was quite a humbling and beautiful experience and now I just want to do more.” Alex said.

And doing more has come naturally to his co-pilot Robert Rodgers who has flown seven previous Angel Flight Missions.

Robert is the owner of the Trinidad aircraft they will be flying and just loves being up in the air and helping others.

“When I finally had the opportunity to fulfil a boyhood ambition to become a pilot I grabbed it with both hands,” Robert said.

“As an Angel Flight Pilot I now have the opportunity to fly more often as well as do something for others. I especially like being able to do something for kids as I have three healthy children and don’t know what it’s like to have them really sick.”

Robert said he loved the experience of reuniting families by flying them home.

“Just the fact that I see the kids who are sick and take them home to reunite them with their family gives me a really good feeling,” he said with real compassion.

“It has helped me understand what they go through when the family unit has been separated. It’s such a big adjustment they have to make in their lives and no child deserves that.”

Keen to recognise the contribution of others who are making this flight possible, Robert said that without the help of sponsor, Breakfast Point Construction Team in Sydney, he would not have been able to be involved in so many missions.

“They have really rallied around to cover part of the fuel costs and we really appreciate their help and want to take this opportunity to say thank you.” he said.

Comment by Alex

"Rebecca, the mother of the patient Dacian was a little anxious, but seemed to cope OK. Dacian is a lovely little chap and I wish him all the best in with the upcoming procedure. It was a very humbling experience to see this little tike, who looked so peaceful (he slept all the way) have to put up with all this treatment. Rob and I were very glad to be able to help out."

Jeff Hutchinson - Pilot

Bridget Younger - Earth Angel
(Bridget's 1st mission)

Angel flight 2 by Jeff Hutchinson
Previous mission for Jeff - M188 AF2.

"It was a good trip Ih 50m to Williamtown, 1h 10m to Inverell and 1 hour back to Ballina."

Matthew with Rebecca holding Dacian, who's just big enough for the headphones.

"On behalf of the Glen Innes Volunteer Home Visiting Service I would like to extend to all at Angel Flight Australia and to the Earth Angels our thanks to those who so generously assisted our Inverell clients on their recent trip to Newcastle so that their infant son could undertake his 3 monthly specialists visits for his chronic lung disorder.

The family are so very grateful for the wonderful assistance and support they received from everyone."

Catherine Donald, Consultant / Volunteer Home Visiting Services