A HEARTBROKEN mother has made an emotional plea for the Federal Government to fund meningococcal B-strain vaccinations following the sudden and tragic death of her precious two-year-old daughter.
Former Mount Gambier resident Sally Lawrence – who has close family members in Mount Gambier – has launched a public campaign to lobby the Federal Government.
Sadly, Sally’s daughter Skylar died in October from the insidious meningococcal B-strain infection just hours after falling ill.
The devastated mother – who lives in Darwin after relocating from the Blue Lake city – is receiving support from a number of district cafes participating in the “Share a chino for Skylar” poignant awareness campaign.
Cafes are being asked to offer a free babyccino to raise awareness of the campaign.
The campaign was inspired by Skylar, who loved to share a babyccino with her twin sister.
And in a touching tribute, a memorial harness racing fixture named after Skylar will be held at the Greenwald Paceway in Mount Gambier in February.
Skylar’s great grandparents Peter and Lesley Medhurst are well known harness racing trainers in Mount Gambier.
Ms Lawrence said she did not know much about the B-strain meningococcal infection until the unimaginable happened.
“We never thought in our wildest dreams that would have been our last holiday as a family of five,” Ms Lawrence told The Border Watch.
Ms Lawrence – who has been lobbying politicians – said she was not told the B-strain vaccination was available by health professionals when Skylar received her vaccinations.
The vaccine for the meningococcal B strain is only accessible if people pay the full price of the shot.
Ms Lawrence warned the dangerous B-strain took her daughter swiftly.
She said Skylar started feeling unwell on the drive back from a family holiday in Katherine to their family home in Darwin.
“All the kids were happy and went for a walk that morning,” she said.
“Skylar seemed restless on the drive back, but she was not complaining.”
Later in the afternoon, Skylar’s temperature began to soar and she began vomiting.
Hours later, three blood-coloured bruises, the size of a third of a fingernail, appeared.
The family was immediately alarmed and rushed Skylar to Darwin hospital, where she was put in an induced coma with a ventilator and died later that night.
“It was so quick,” Ms Lawrence explained.
“We need to get everybody involved in the campaign – we need to protect our kids.”
While the family was still trying to come to terms with the loss, she said Skylar’s siblings have been told “Skylar is now a star in the sky”.
Her siblings Rhainer and Navaro blow a kiss to her every night.
The family’s campaign will run indefinitely until the Federal Government responds to a growing chorus across the country calling for the meningococcal B-strain to be placed on the National Immunisation Program.
To Go Gourmet Sandwich and Espresso Bar in Mount Gambier and Country Post and Bistro at Glencoe have joined the campaign.
Other cafes are also urged to join the campaign to raise awareness.
