Abi

Abi may only be five years old, but she has overcome more challenges than others do in a lifetime.

In 2014 Abi and her family were involved in a head-on collision while the family were in Brisbane visiting relatives.

The accident left Abi paralysed from the neck down and mum Tanya, sister Tobi and brother James, with serious injuries.

The nerves that enabled Abi to breathe were irreparably damaged so doctors had to perform an emergency tracheotomy surgery and she was placed on a ventilator. After four days in a coma she awoke to her mother’s face, giving the family renewed hope for her recovery.

“Doctors didn’t expect her to survive the night of the accident, but she did, and she continues to amaze them every day”, Tanya said.

After the accident, a team of rehabilitation specialists at the Queensland Children’s Hospital started working with her to give Abi the best chance at a normal life.

Almost two years on, including 19 months in intensive care, Abi is now back home with her family. She operates her wheelchair by moving her chin and head and has learnt to write and draw using her mouth.

“I’m determined to make sure she can do everything she wants. She is capable of anything it just means she’ll do things a little differently to other children,”

Tanya said one of the most magical moments for her family was when Abi lifted her head for the first time.

“She complained that the back of her head was itchy so I went to lift her head to scratch it and noticed it was already off the bed,” she said.

“And there was Abi with this huge grin on her face. She is our little miracle and she continues to amaze us.”

With the support of her family, friends and a team of specialists, Abi is moving forward in leaps and bounds. In January she attended her first day of Prep at the Queensland Children’s Hospital School (pictured above).

Abi is the face of the Children’s Hospital Foundation latest fundraising appeal. For more information visit the Children’s Hospital Foundation website.