Jan Houston (McHenry) YHS 1952 Wrote about their grandson, Rhys, a very intelligent, gorgeous young boy, who attends Tanjil Sth Primary. He should have been in Grade 4 but was placed in an accelerator Grade 5. Because of this, he was able to go on a snow camp to Mt Baw Baw for a school excursion. Once up there, the kids had proper skiing lessons and it was on his third day that while practicing, the boy in front fell, Rhys skiid around him but unfortunately hit ice, lost control and plummeted into a tree - head first. This happened about 3pm and immediately the Ski Patrol were called and got him off the snow. He was assessed and our local Helimed 1 Air Ambulance was called. He was busy so the Police Helicopter from Essendon was called and duly arrived on the mountain. Unfortunately, they didn't have a neck brace small enough to transport him in, as neck/spinal injuries were suspected. By this time, the mist and cloud descended and the chopper was forced to leave without Rhys and a wonderful Paramedic who stayed. The last avenue left was to call a land ambulance from Warragul. He eventually arrived and Rhys was taken to Neerim Sth football ground where Helimed 1 met him to transport him to the Royal Children's Hospital. His arrival time was 10.30pm!! (an eternity to his parents, Sue & Glen, and us.) We were unaware of all the delays. Once he arrived, it was action plus two doctors, X-ray machine and nurses all waiting. The X-ray confirmed no damage to neck or spine but he had a very swollen stomach but that didn't appear to be a priority. Upstairs to the CAT Scan, and at 12.30pm we were informed that Rhys had a massive blood clot on his brain, and a fractured skull which, they told us later, probably saved his life as it had released some of the blood. To theatre immediately or else!! After an agonising 5+ hours, the Neurosurgeon and his assistant emerged telling us that all had gone well but he could be epileptic - so what, he's alive we thought! After further conversation with this brilliant man, we discovered that he came from Yallourn, we knew him and his family, went to school with him, although not the same year. We all knew him as Jimmy, but he is now known as Mr David Wallace, Consultant Neurosurgeon to RCH. You really can't imagine the feelings we had for this man. Rhys spent 1 week and his 1Oth birthday in RCH and had a special helmet made to protect his skull. He suffers headaches and dizzy spells occasionally but as his brain is still swollen and bruised, Mr W says this is par for the course. At 6 months, he has been given the all clear for the surgery and no epilepsy. He has had 2 scans in the last 6 months and they are showing a little brain damage but we are told it is not a major worry. Rhys is doing well at school, playing cricket and golf, riding his bike and climbing trees and is enjoying life, and he realises, as we do, how lucky we was that David Wallace was at the RCH that fateful night.
