Hello, our names are Amy, Cam and Jamie, and we live in the ACT. We are asking for your help.

In February 2025, Jamie (8yo) was diagnosed with a 3cm Atrial septal defect which requires open heart surgery to repair.

We were referred to a private surgeon working at Westmead Childrens Hospital for surgery in April. We arrived in Sydney for all pre-op testing and were informed his surgery was cancelled. We paid for private accomodation due to RMH not having space for us, which we left and returned to Canberra.

He was rescheduled for May, and we arrived at the surgical checkins, signed consents and 10 mins in the waiting room, we were told it was once again cancelled and to return home.

We explored alternative options for Jamie, and we were unsuccessful, but chose to change surgeons.

Next Friday (26 Sept), we will be returning to Westmead with a new surgeon, and hope.

Unfortunately, this has impacted us financially in many ways. The emotional toll it has taken on our family has impacted our work, our health and our home life. We all feel "stunted" by the diagnosis and disruption the cancellations have caused.

Cam is a casual worker and the stress has made it hard for him to work, and I have tapped out of all leave entitlements. We both have physical health limitations we already manage which have been intensified over the last 7 months.

We would really appreciate anything, to help with costs of travel and accomodation and time off work to be with our son, and anything above those costs would go toward a holiday in February for our family, provided the surgery is not cancelled again.