Gold Telethon 2020 - Different but still making a difference

This year, the Gold Telethon is different from its usual all day format, but not in its aim to continue making a difference to the lives of sick children, with funds raised helping kids like seven-year-old Monty Hui, a Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick patient since birth.

Monty’s health journey began when doctors discovered he had hydrocephalus, or fluid build-up in the skull that was causing his brain to swell. He was referred to Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick where he had emergency brain surgery and a shunt placed to relieve pressure in his brain.

In a continued effort with Monty’s parents Jess and Danny, doctors were able to diagnose Monty at the tender age of two with pontocerebellar hypoplasia, a rare disease that affects the development of the brain.

“It was an incredibly hard time – there was so much uncertainty but we knew he was in good hands, which helped us just get on with it,” said Jess.

Before long, the hospital became a second home to Monty and his family who were under the care of a cross departmental team including: neurosurgery; neurology; Rehab2Kids; physiotherapy; occupational therapy; eye clinic; feeding clinic; audiology; orthopaedics; orthotics; and general paediatrics.

At just three-years-old, Monty required lifesaving surgery to remove a blockage in his shunt. After a post-surgery setback and months in hospital, Monty finally got to go home.

He is now a bubbly 7-year-old who attends school with his siblings and still regularly visits the hospital for check-ups.

Join us and support patients like Monty. Together, with our incredible team of clinicians and staff, and the life-changing fundraising efforts of Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, we can make a difference in little peoples’ lives.

Want to get involved in Gold Telethon?

• Get social - Follow, like or share content from Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

• Tune in - Watch Channel Nine on Monday, 8 June from 3pm for our annual Gold Telethon broadcast.

• Donate - To make a donation or to find out more about Gold Telethon visit www.goldtelethon.org.au