• Question: what made you want to help children?

    Asked by anon-220440 to Rebecca, Thiloka, Rachel, Nina on 7 Jun 2019. This question was also asked by anon-221040, anon-221042.
    • Photo: Rebecca Moon

      Rebecca Moon answered on 7 Jun 2019:

      I think I just enjoyed working with children as even when they are really poorly they often still want to play and have fun. It can be hard though when kids are really sick, but if we can make life easier for them and their parents then its rewarding.

    • Photo: Nina Rzechorzek

      Nina Rzechorzek answered on 21 Jun 2019: last edited 21 Jun 2019 7:29 pm

      I don’t specifically work with children – but some of my veterinary patients are very young when they develop neurological disorders such as epilepsy and some rare brain tumours. My greatest wish is to discover something with my research that will improve brain health for both humans and other animals of all ages. It’s especially heartbreaking to have to euthanise a young, and otherwise healthy animal just because we don’t have any treatments for their brain disease. I sometimes think that paediatrics must be a bit like veterinary medicine because like veterinary patients, some very young children cannot communicate exactly how they are feeling to their doctor. Sometimes I really wish my patients could talk to me so I could know for sure what was important to them. In some respects though it’s harder for the owner than the patient, because the patient doesn’t know they have a life-threatening disease and we have very strong drugs to keep them comfortable in the meantime. Even if they have a short life, it’s important that we make it the best it can be.

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