HOSPITALS Mrs Tarabay had dropped her older children at school and child care when she began to feel some pain, but didn’t worry as she had experienced those symptoms all week. She called the hospital and was told to come in for a check-up anyway. Mr Tarabay, a builder, came home from work and they hopped in the ute. “From here to the hospital is about 15 minutes, there’s no traffic just after 10.30am,” she said. But Mrs Tarabay started having contractions in the passenger seat. “He’s driving with one hand on the wheel and one hand helping me,” she said. “I said: you’re going to have to pull over the baby is coming.” They chose a spot next to a work site so they could call out to people for help. “I jumped out of the car and yelled, call the ambulance, and Kerri’s beeping the horn,” Mr Tarabay said. But the baby started coming forcing Mr Tarabay to deliver his new son himself. “I saw the head coming and put my hand under his chest and guided him out,” he said. But the traumatic ordeal continued as Joshua was not breathing. Mr Tarabay tapped the baby on the back and started rubbing him as he’d seen medical staff do with his other children. Luckily Joshua made a noise and his parents gave a sigh of relief. Mr Tarabay took off his shirt and wrapped it around the baby putting him on his wife’s chest before they continued on their way to the hospital. “It was the scariest experience of my life, but the most incredible and beautiful experience of my life and I’m so pleased to have that and I’m very happy that everything worked out fine,” Mr Tarabay said. 6 The Ramsay Way 2016 | 01 Mrs Tarabay is full of praise for her husband’s actions and his ability to stay calm in a crisis. “I think a lot of people would have freaked out, whatever needed to be done, he worked it out,” she said. Joshua is not the first in the family to have an unusual delivery. Mr and Mrs Tarabay’s second child Joseph was born in the back of an ambulance! What makes this story so special, other than a father delivering his own child on the side of the road, was the act of kindness by Westmead Security Guard Abdul, who took it upon himself to clean their car. Another great example of people caring for people. Pet therapy at Joondalup Health Campus It’s said that dog is a man’s best friend and for patients on the Public Rehabilitation Ward at Joondalup Health Campus (JHC) nothing could be closer to the truth. Toy poodle ‘Lady’ has recently begun weekly visits and is now in high demand. JHC Clinical Nurse Manager Kay Turner said the enthusiastic response to the furry visitor on her ward had been amazing. “It is becoming an increasingly common form of rehabilitation, studies have shown pet therapy can improve mood and behaviour and help reduce feelings of anxiety and loneliness in sufferers of dementia,” she said. “Some evidence has even shown improvements in coordination and muscle strength.” “It’s been lovely to see the look on patients’ faces when they see Lady. The joy she brings really brightens their day and reminds patients of pets they may have at home.” “We recently saw a patient who suffers from Parkinson’s disease who had difficulty moving her hands. We placed Lady next to her with her hand on top and we were delighted when we saw the patient running her hands through Lady’s fur.” A firm favourite on the ward, six-year-old Lady spends time cuddling, playing and being pampered with treats during her visits Patient Marian Lane, 83, said she was thrilled with her first visit from Lady. “I just love animals so much. Back when I had my kids in hospital you were only allowed short visits from your husband. You would never have been allowed a visit from a dog so it’s just lovely,” she said. Ms Lane’s daughter Lindy said the program had really helped her mum. “The program is so good for patients. Mum has a cat at home so she misses the contact. Being able to cuddle Lady has been really great for her wellbeing,” she said. Following its success plans are now underway to extend the pet therapy program to other rehabilitation wards at Joondalup Health Campus. Father delivers baby in ute on the way to Westmead Private Baby Joshua made an early entry into the world after a speedy delivery in his parent’s ute. Guildford couple Kerri and Anthony Tarabay had to take quick action for the birth of their fourth child. Clinical Nurse Manager Kay Turner and patient Marian Lane spending some therapeutic time Westmead Security Guard Abdul cleaned the couple’s with ‘Lady’. car after they arrived at the hospital.
The Ramsay Way - Autumn 2016
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