Medical Mystery a race against time
The last couple of years could be described as a parent’s worst nightmare for the Dickinson family.
But looking at little Graycin today with her gorgeous big eyes and rosy cheeks, you wouldn’t know that what started as an unexplained illness in October 2018, developed into a full-blown emergency and the removal of a 5cm x 5cm mass from the three-year-old’s stomach more than 12 months later.
It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions for her Mackay family including mum Hailey, dad Daimon and brother Ace, 8, and little sister Esika, 2.
“We thought we had actually lost her a couple of times,” Hailey said.
“She’s been poked and prodded for more than 12 months by a multitude of doctors and specialists and they just couldn’t tell us what was wrong with her. To see your child so unwell, in terrible pain and not be able to talk or walk…. It was absolutely terrifying.”
The Dickinsons first took Graycin to the emergency department on October 28 in 2018 with vomiting, headaches and abdominal pain. On the third day she still hadn’t eaten they took her back and she was hospitalized and treated for dehydration and a urinary tract infection.
On November 6 she was sedated for an MRI but ended up in the intensive care unit after she suffered a bronchial spasm. As a result, she was transferred to Townsville, the worst four-hour drive of their lives, Hailey said.
“We were frantic not knowing what was wrong with our little girl,” she said.
In Townsville, Gracyin was diagnosed with appendicitis but medical imaging didn’t show a clear picture of her abdomen. In February her appendix was finally removed via keyhole surgery, but she subsequently developed an infection in her wound and a haemaetoma.
2019 was a year of ongoing stomach pain, general unwellness and abdominal issues for the little girl and her worried family.
On October 31 last year, Graycin’s condition deteriorated severely. She was suffering severe pain, vomiting, shortness of breath and sporadic seizures. At the hospital doctors were unable to examine her thoroughly as she was so guarded, but the next day she was again bought to hospital by ambulance trembling and in extreme pain. An ultrasound revealed a 3cm x 3cm mass in her stomach.
On November 12, RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked to fly the very sick three-year-old and her incredibly worried mother to Townsville immediately. Her father and siblings drove up to be by their side.
“It was terrifying to be told she had a mass in her stomach – the specialists didn’t know if it was cancer so tests and further imaging was needed to rule it out. No mother ever wants to hear that,” Hailey said.
CQ Rescue pilot Kev Berry, air crewman Grant Bollington, critical care paramedic Ian Buck-Barrett and doctor Annette Forrest were on duty and awaited their little patient who was transferred by road ambulance to the CQ Rescue base from Mackay Base Hospital. They took off at 12.15pm and arrived in Townsville at 1.45pm.
“We are forever grateful for the service of CQ Rescue, words truly can’t express our gratitude,” Hailey said.
“I can’t imagine what would have happened if they weren’t available to assist us and get us to Townsville as quickly as they did. I can honestly say that CQ Rescue not only assisted in the transfer to Townsville hospital they helped save our daughter’s life. And by no means do I say that lightly.”
“The team during our flight were amazing. I personally was a complete mess but they were all so calm and collected. Their professional ability gave me the reassurance I needed during a very difficult time while I felt so helpless watching my daughter lay on the bed in a state I wish never to see again.”
Graycin spent the next couple of weeks in hospital meeting with paediatric specialists, oncologists and undergoing cat scans and MRI’s. “There was so much imaging done of her tiny body to try and find out what the mass actually was,” Daimon said.
On November 30, she underwent surgery to remove the mass which had by then grown to 5cm x 5cm and on December 2, after doctors examined the tissue, they were thrilled to finally deliver the anxious family some good news.
“I’ll never forget the day – the doctor just came into the room and his face lit up as he said ‘it’s not cancer’. We were just so relieved,” Hailey said.
The mass was actually a build-up of waste tissue and fecal matter in the omentum, which is an expanse of fatty-like tissue that encases the liver, intestine and stomach. Little Graycin’s body had in fact been absorbing the toxic waste byproducts of her burst appendix in her abdomen to protect her liver, intestine and stomach.
“The doctors were absolutely amazed and said they had never seen anything like it before,” Hailey said.
It’s certainly been a tumultuous journey for the Dickinson family. As a result of more than 12 months of trauma, Graycin has developed gall stones and adolescent epilepsy. Months of physio, speech therapy and psychologist visits have helped her regain some of her speech and her ability to walk.
“It surely won’t be something we are able to forget any time soon,” Hailey said.
“Though in saying that it does put things into perspective in how lucky we really are. We can only offer the biggest and most heart-felt thanks to the Townsville hospital and the CQ Rescue team and all the men and women behind the scenes who help keep this great organisation in the air and available when it’s needed and when someone, just like myself, least expects it,” she said.
“Each and every day Graycin is improving, and that is partly due to the help from CQ Rescue.
“Thank you for welcoming our family back to your hangar to give us a more enjoyable memory of CQ Rescue – this time Graycin was happy and smiling as we toured the helicopter. “
Today Graycin is finally on another journey – this time to finally regaining her health.
