Grade 5 Wyndham Vale Primary School student Calista Aves returned to Werribee Mercy Hospital last week for the first time since almost dying there in 2019.
Returning to the scene of a such an event can be a traumatic experience, but given her heart stopped beating during a cardiac arrest, it’s not one Calista has any recollection of.
“While Calista has few memories of what was then a very difficult time, she will always be
grateful to hear of advances in an area which has contributing to her leading a healthy life,”
said her father Mark Aves, who accompanied his daughter back to the hospital on September 28 for the unveiling of its new automated CPR device.
“While Calista is doing really well, we always want patients to have access to the very best of technology,” Mr Aves said.
The hospital’s new Corpuls Chest Compressor is certainly an example of that.
Werribee Mercy Director of Intensive Care Services, Dr Mainak Majumdar, said the state-of-the art device will allow CPR to be deliver quicker and easier to the benefit of both staff and patients.
“Staff members performing CPR rapidly get fatigued,” Dr Majumdar said.
“Prolonged effective CPR can require many staff members working together on a single patient.
Using the Corpuls Chest Compressor, team members can maintain their focus on treating the
patient.”
Werribee Mercy has access to the compressor thanks to a donation from the Wyndham Health Foundation who raised the $40,000 needed to buy the state-of-the-art device.
“We work hard to raise funds and awareness and I’m very proud of our team but also our
supporters do their very best to achieve the best outcomes for our community in Melbourne’s
west,” said foundation CEO Leanne Down.
Among those who greeted Calista on her return last Thursday were staff who helped save
her life four years ago.
In updating them on what she’d been up to since they last met, Calista boasted proudly of her recent performance in school cross country.
“I got a bit puffed but I finished the race well,” she said.
Now that’s progress.
