Willow Manson, now 11, was 10 at the time she unexpectedly fell ill with what started as a simple sinus infection and led to eight-and-a-half hours of brain surgery.

Willow’s father, Adam Manson, spoke to The Spectator in the lead up to the annual Good Friday Appeal that raises money for the RCH and said she was now doing well thanks to the exceptional treatment she received.

“They were so good to us,” he said.

“The surgeons, the nurses - their level of care is amazing,” he said.

“They do absolutely everything for you.”

Mr Manson said Willow’s infection led to an abscess on the front of her brain and meningitis.

He said the Hamilton Base Hospital had Willow on a standby list for the earliest available transfer to rush her to the RCH.

“Soon after we arrived, she had bilateral craniotomy and ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgery,” he said.

“There were two different surgical teams; an ear, nose and throat team, and a specialist team of neurosurgeons.

“We were in the Royal Children’s for ten days and nine nights.”

Mr Manson said the care and attention Willow received at the RCH was amazing.

“Even the people at the coffee store - the first thing they ask is - I hope everything is ok,” he said.

“The mentality of that place is just phenomenal.

“They understand that if you’re in that building, there’s something terribly wrong.”

It’s because of families like the Mansons that motivates the 100,000 Good Friday Appeal volunteers every year.

More than $421 million has been raised for the benefit of sick children since the Appeal began in 1931.

Money raised goes towards equipment, research and education, and patient and family centred care to ensure treatment at RCH remains world class.

The Hamilton Lions Club has raised $771,635.13 for the Good Friday Appeal over many years thanks to the tireless work of a dedicated team of Volunteers.

In 2022, the RCH admitted 7437 regional inpatients, had 5296 regional emergency department presentations and saw a total of 77,139 regional children through outpatient or telehealth appointments.

Mr Manson and his family were extremely grateful to the RCH and said she was continuing to recover well post-surgery.

“We got the ‘all clear’ about a month ago,” Mr Manson said.

“Willow is back at school as normal.

“We just have to do regular monitoring now and she’ll have another MRI in about three months.”

On behalf of Willow and family, Mr Manson expressed his gratitude towards the local community for the generosity and support they had shown throughout Willow’s illness, and since she had returned home from hospital.

“Since we’ve returned home, we can’t believe the amount of people that we’ve spoken to in such a small community that have also had reason to attend the Royal Children’s,” he said.

“I think everybody that can, should donate - even just one dollar - to the Good Friday Appeal, because the work they do is second to none.” The Hamilton Lions Club is coordinating the Hamilton Victoria RCH Good Friday Appeal that includes members from the CFA, the Hamilton SES, the Hamilton Kangaroos Football and Netball Club volunteering as tin shakers beforehand, and on Good Friday, April 7.