Flynn's Story
Introduction:
My 11 month old grandson was recently diagnosed as having a very narrow windpipe leading to life threatening breathing issues. I have no doubt the flying doctor service was one of the major factors in saving his life when they flew a paediatric team from Royal Brisbane Hospital to Rockhampton on the night of the 11th of April this year. Flynn (rather appropriately named given the circumstances) was not expected to survive the night. On behalf of my daughter Rhiannon, son in law Robert and grandson Flynn, my deepest thanks. Flynn's grandma, Sharron" (Sharron wrote this note when Flynn was three weeks post op)
Flynn's story
Flynn Nutsch was born with a comparatively rare condition which went undetected for the first 3 months of his life. Flynn’s parents Rhiannon and Rob noticed that when Flynn got upset or over excited his breathing became increasinghily noisy and he quickly became breathless. The local GP believed Flynn had a condition called Laryngo Malacia, a malformed Larynx, and referred him to his home town hospital, Rockhampton Base Hospital, in Central Queensland.
Whilst waiting for an appointment, 5 month old Flynn had an episode during which he stopped breathing in his mothers arms. Rhiannon (a former St Johns Ambulance junior cadet) resuscitated Flynn, called an ambulance and he was rushed to the local hospital. On examination it was believed mucus had briefly blocked the airway and after an evening in hospital Flynn was sent home.
Breathing issues continued and Flynn was sent to Royal Women and Childrens hospital for a minor procedure to repair the Laryngo Malacia, (which he did indeed have). Upon doing the procedure it was discovered Flynn could not be intubated due to a tracheal stenosis. Flynn’s windpipe should have been 6mm wide and was actually less than 2mm wide; he also had a pulmonary artery sling which meant an artery from the heart was wrapped around the windpipe (not the cause of the narrowing) and would have to be moved in order to perform risky life-saving surgery on the trachea. Mortality rate for this type of operation is extremely high.
Flynn was supplied with an oxygen cylinder and came home to Rockhampton briefly, prior to the operation. On the last day of the Easter break 2008 (and the day before his mums 19th birthday) he was sitting on the floor playing and suddenly started to struggle for air. Rhiannon phoned an ambulance and began to administer oxygen. Flynn's whole body turned blue and his chest wall was nearly touching his spine with every struggle for breath. The ambulance arrived and on its 15 minute race to the hospital it stopped briefly to take on board extra paramedics.
On arrival at the Rockhampton hospital, accident and emergency staff worked hard to keep 10 month old Flynn alive whilst it was decided to fly a paediatric team from Brisbane. The Royal Flying Doctor Team was called and quickly went into action, flying a respiratory paediatric team from Royal Women and Childrens HHH ospital to Rockhampton. One of the team attempted (and was successful) in intubating Flynn. He was placed in a medically induced coma and placed on a ventilator. The RFDS flew Flynn and his dad Robert back to Brisbane within 2 hours of the paediatric team stabilising him.
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Work continued over the next week to seek medical advice world wide on the best approach to this rare operation. In the meantime Flynn’s condition was worsening. Dr. Pohlner at Prince Charles cardio-thoracic hospital agreed to perform the surgery along with Dr. Masters head of respiratory at Royal Childrens. On Saturday 19th April, (aged 10 ½ months), Flynn underwent 6 hour surgery at Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane. The trachea was very unstable and the surgery was difficult. Flynn was a very sick baby. His chance for survival was considered slight.
Over the next 6 weeks Flynn was heavily sedated as a frightening range of medications, procedures and incredibly dedicated people aided his recovery. Flynn’s dad Robert continued to work in Rockhampton to pay family bills whilst making the 8 hour journey to see his son as often as possible. Rhiannon remained in Brisbane, living at Ronald Macdonald house and keeping in constant touch with her Rockhampton relatives by ‘phone.
The biggest issue during the recovery was the removal of ventilation. Every attempt saw the windpipe collapse and talk was turning to a permanent tracheotomy tube. On Sunday 18th May a final attempt to extubate was successful. Within days Flynn was moved from the Intensive Care Unit (his home of 6 weeks) to Robertson Medical ward. He was kept in an isolated room in order to minimise the risk of coughs and cold from other children during his recovery. During his recovery time he had physio-therapy and frequent visits from the ‘Working Wonders’ staff who organised music therapy, access to DVD’s and gave him his first birthday party (minus food) on the 23rd May 2008. Flynn was also chosen to be this coming years poster boy for Big W Queensland’s Big Heart charity campaign in conjunction with ‘Working Wonders’
On Tuesday 3rd June Flynn and Rhiannon came home to their family in Rockhampton. Flynn is on a lot of medication and needs to learn how to swallow again; he has lost a little weight and will need lots of hospital visits. However, he arrived smiling and clapping, a far cry from the baby who flew courtesy of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, ventilated and unconscious, to Brisbane 8 weeks ago.
My family can never hope to express the gratitude we feel to the numerous people who gave Flynn a chance to live and realise his full potential. There are no words that adequately express how we feel for the gift of seeing Flynn grow up. Our heartfelt thanks to the Royal Flying Doctor Service for getting him the help he needed so quickly. You will be in my thoughts for the rest of my life. Without your help I doubt we would still have him.
I thank the amazing medical team, surgeons, doctors and nurses who operated and provided a 24 hour watch for Flynn’s recovery over many weeks.
My gratitude to the behind the scenes people such as the staff from ‘Working Wonders’ who helped ease my daughter Rhiannon’s loneliness when so far away from home with no family, and also all the kind people who donated food items and organised a mothers day function at Ronald Macdonald House to ease the burden on those staying there long term.
My thanks to Robert for being a great dad and looking after his family so well and to my daughter Rhiannon for being as strong as I knew she could be (not a great first mother’s day, the next one will be better).
Most of all, I thank Flynn, for having the strength to fight so hard to live and for not breaking his grandma’s heart.
Sharron and Ken Shields (Flynn’s grandparents) (10th May 2008)
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Flynn's first birthday
Flynn with his mum post op .jpg)
Flynn with his dad post op .jpg)