KILMORE resident Grace Gibson met Queen Mary of Denmark on the same day as her annual check-up for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) last month.
Queen Mary and King Frederick X of Denmark visited the Royal Children’s Hospital on Wednesday, March 18, as part of their first royal tour of Australia since Mary’s coronation.
As the crowd gathered, so did the 13-year-old patient’s interest in its reason.
Elle Gibson said Queen Mary stopped to talk to Grace as she might have recognised the Assumption College blazer, and she paused to ask the student how she was and why she was there.
Grace answered they were there for an appointment, and next Queen Mary made direct eye with Mrs Gibson to enquire “is everything okay?”
Everything is okay thanks to the caring nature of a relative who shared their own child’s DDH diagnosis.
“A relative was diagnosed and she suggested Grace be checked,” Mrs Gibson said.
“I remember the Maternal and Child Health Nurse saying, she has no symptoms, but we’ll send you [make a referral].
“We got [our first] appointment [at the Royal Children’s], not knowing what to expect. A couple of hours later [after an ultrasound] Grace appeared wearing a brace, and she has been a patient ever since.”
Mrs Gisbon said: “We were really lucky it was caught early as Grace wore the brace for a short time, less than three months.”
Two daughters followed Grace and each were automatically screened for an extended period, but they did not need medical intervention.
Its thanks to the expert knowledge of the hospital’s orthopaedics department that children with DDH can live long and fulfilling lives. When DDH is not treated in the early stages, it may lead to stiff joints, hip pain, and abnormal limb development.
Grace enjoys playing netball, and all sorts of dancing including ballet, jazz hip hop and contemporary.
The Royal Children’s Good Friday Appeal is held annually to raise funds to continue to support world-class paediatric care for children like Grace. To donate visit http://www.goodfridayappeal.com.au/donate