Dr Andreas Schibler is the head of the Paediatric Critical Care Research Group at the Mater Children’s Hospital. Dr Schibler and his colleagues are conducting research that focuses on life support, congenital heart disease and traumatic brain injury in children.
"Our research aims to improve the care delivered to children on life support - to not only save lives but to improve the quality of life for those who survive," said Dr Schibler.
"Everyday I am reminded just how essential medical research like ours is to saving children’s lives - children like seven-year-old Natasha."
Natasha was rushed to the Mater Children’s Hospital following an accident on her family’s farm. Her skull was crushed by the back wheel of a tractor driven by her father - she had sustained a traumatic brain injury.
The Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) team met Natasha in Emergency and in a state of shock and disbelief her parents could only watch as more than 30 staff worked desperately to save Natasha’s life.
"Her condition was critical. My team and I worked continuously throughout the night, battling to save this little girl’s life," recalls Dr Schibler.
The next morning Natasha was still fighting to stay alive and her parents selflessly agreed for her to be involved in a research study (looking at oxygen delivery to the brain) in the knowledge that this research would help other children with brain injuries in the future.
"Only four short years ago, this type of brain injury was virtually a death sentence. But, thanks to community support for medical research, more children than ever are surviving with improved long term outcomes," said Dr Schibler.
Do you have a Mater story to share with us?