You are walking for families like Cobber's...
Tegan Parker and son, Cobber (6 years old) are from Kununurra, 3041km from Perth, in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Cobber lives with a rare joint disorder called Arthrogryposis D-5.
Before giving birth to Cobber, a scan detected that he had a clubbed foot. Tegan was told that this would require surgery when Cobber was born.
Before Tegan could give birth to Cobber, a midwife detected that he was in breech position during a scan and an immediate caesarean was recommended.
“When he was born he was severely deformed. They have no idea why it happened he wasn’t expected to survive. He was born with his legs wrapped around head,” says Tegan.
Baby Cobber had to be resuscitated half a dozen times in his first few weeks of life.
10 hours into his life, Cobber and Tegan had to fly to Perth as the Kununurra hospital didn’t have a neonatal unit.
“Without the House we wouldn’t be able to live where we live. I wouldn’t be able to have a job, we would have had to relocate to Perth.
Our lives would have to revolve 100% around Cobber’s healthcare instead of being a family. I couldn’t live without the House.”
Cobber has come a long way. He went from having no use of his legs to being able to stand and walk, unassisted.
Since 2014, Ronald McDonald House Charities Western Australia has been Tegan and Cobber’s home away from home for 292 nights across 45 different stays.
As Tegan and Cobber continue on their medical journey together, RMHC WA will continue to support the family during their time of need, when times are tough.
