Home From the 'Space Mission': Willow Beats the Odds
Two-year-old Willow returned to The Alfred this week, not as a patient, but as a triumphant visitor. She was greeted with cheers as she picked up her "space helmet"—a token from the hyperbaric team that helped save her life.
Willow developed a life-threatening fungal infection while undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia. To beat it, she needed hyperbaric oxygen therapy—a treatment her family began calling "space missions."
She traveled regularly from the Royal Children's Hospital to The Alfred for these sessions. The team, including doctors, nurses, and engineers, worked hard to make a terrifying experience less scary. They sang songs from Frozen and discussed the plot of Finding Nemo to keep her calm.
"They created a comfortable and welcoming environment during a very difficult period," said Willow’s father, Andrew.
Today, both her leukemia and the fungal infection are in remission. After seven months in the hospital, Willow is finally home.
Head of Hyperbaric Dr. Bridget Devaney said the team was overjoyed to see Willow healthy and in good spirits. She noted that The Alfred has treated an unprecedented number of pediatric patients recently.
"It is so important that we make this experience as positive as possible for the children and their families," Dr. Devaney said.
Willow’s story is a reminder of the power of expert medical care—and the magic of a little imagination.