Rainey’s story

During her 20 week ultrasound, pregnant Mum Amber was told her baby had spina bifida. When Rainey arrived, her treatment began at just one day old when she had surgery to reinsert her spinal cord and close the hole in her back. Ten days later Rainey underwent another surgery, this time on her brain, to insert a shunt. Now nine years old, Rainey is on the waiting list for her ninth surgery.

Mum, Amber told us how she was feeling when she found out her baby had spina bifida.

The family still have to visit the Queensland Children’s Hospital every six months, sometimes it can be as often as every fortnight. The impact of this on family life is huge. Visiting the Hospital for multiple appointments with specialists in the one day can be quite stressful. Mum, Amber appreciated the help offered by the Children’s Hospital Foundation, “The volunteers in the green shirts help with directions, bedside play volunteers distract from pain and boredom of the hospital bed and are remembered long after our stays.

Rainey and her family are regulars at Woolworths North Rockhampton. Rainey is doing well at school and Mum, Amber told us that Rainey had said “I’m glad I have spina bifida because I’m the most popular kid in school.”

Rainey is one of 20 ambassadors for the Woolworths Regional Wall Tokens campaign.

By purchasing a $2 wall token from now until the end of September, you are helping fund equipment and programs in your local hospital, which help families like Rainey’s through an emotional, stressful, and at times uncertain journey.

Woolworths Regional Wall Tokens is an opportunity to highlight some of the brave kids throughout Queensland and northern New South Wales, who you can help by purchasing a wall token.