Media Releases
Friday, 20 December 2002
A brush with Royalty
Japan's Crown Prince and Princess delighted patients and staff with an official visit to Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick on Tuesday 17 December 2002.
Penrith youngster, Timothy Stone, aged nine, had the honour of meeting the Imperial Highnesses in Ward C1 North, at the Hospital. Timothy has been a patient at Sydney Children's Hospital for the past seven years.
'I thought the Royal couple were lovely,' says Timothy. 'She looked like a real princess!'
Timothy greeted the Royals by saying, 'Conichiwa', and spontaneously asked how old their baby daughter is. The Princess quickly grabbed some family snapshots and shared them with Timothy.
Catherine Stone, Timothy's mum, also enjoyed the visit. 'They were lovely people,' she says. 'Timothy was so thrilled to meet them. The Princess kissed him on the cheek and shook his hand, so he didn't want to wash his hands afterwards. He was on cloud nine!'
Timothy was born prematurely at 24 weeks, and diagnosed with congenital spinal cord injury. He has been treated at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick for seven years, and now visits the Hospital every six months.
Timothy wears a Reciprocating Gait Orthosis, as discussed during the Royal visit by his physiotherapist Virginia Binns, Head of Physiotherapy and Director Allied Health, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick.
Throughout his young life, Timothy has had many operations including having a rod inserted in his back, and having this rod lengthened as he grows.
Virginia has treated Timothy since he first arrived at the Hospital in 1995. She has been involved in Timothy's physical development and prescription of his Reciprocating Gait Orthosis (RGO).
The RGO was developed in the USA and is now manufactured by the Orthotics Department at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick. Its purpose is to help a paralysed child to walk by shifting their weight in a certain way. Because the 'walking ' is more normal, i.e. the child will move one leg at a time, less energy is used to get around and the child is happier to wear the device for long periods without getting tired.
The management of Timothy's condition has always occurred as part of a multidisciplinary process including care by the Spina Bifida Clinic at the Hospital along with the Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Orthotics Departments, nurses, surgeons and paediatricians.
Timothy lives near Penrith with his mother Catherine, father Peter and four bothers, James 19 years, Mathew 17 years, Joshua 16 years and Luke 14 years.
Each day Timothy, under the guidance of his mum Catherine, practices using his RGO with activities such as getting into the RGO, walking, jumping up gutters, and sitting in the device.
For Further Information Contact:
Amy McIntosh, Public Affairs Tel: 9382 3578 - Mob: 0411 730 842
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