The Royal Melbourne Hospital

Thanks to funds raised in Dry July 2019, The Royal Melbourne Hospital was able to develop a fresh look for their palliative unit by creating beautiful gardens for patients to enjoy.

The gardens have made a significant impact on patients during their stay at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, with staff receiving comments like, "It is lovely - it reminds me of my own garden." 

Another patient who was at the hospital for end of life care loved the garden and requested to have her bed angled towards the garden at all times so that it was her view throughout the day.

Thanks to the funds raised by the 2019 Dry July Foundation, this wonderful addition to the Palliative Care and Supportive Care Unit has most certainly added to the quality of life to the patients and their families!

We're pleased to announce that Royal Melbourne Hospital has received an additional grant from the Dry July Foundation October grant round. 

This grant will enable the funding of:

• The purchase of 3 treatment chairs

• The purchase of 2 mixed taps which enables nurses to make patient drinks in a safe environment without having to leave the clinical area and provide clean drinking water to patients who are required to take oral medications

Thanks to funds raised in 2019, the Dry July Foundation has been able to fund various projects at the Royal Melbourne Hospital to improve the comfort and wellbeing of people affected by cancer.

The projects funded include:

• Electronic Equipment Package - Purchase 3 x iPads and 5 cx Portable Combination Digital Radio/CD players

• Complimentary Hospital TV Rental - Ongoing rental of TV System in Palliative Care

• Platelet Incubator - Prevents wastage as once platelets dispensed from blood bank they cannot be returned

• General Equacel pressure relieving cushions

• Sara Steady Standing Hoist and iPad for speech pathology to assist ward based rehab, to speed recovery before rehab sessions

• BOSE Soundlink Bluetooth speaker to play music on the ward

• iPad for patient admission, to aid head and neck liaison nurse with visual resources

• iPad so that patients can email wound progress photos

• Purchase Post Op Care Packages for 100 head and neck cancer patients

• Palliative Care Garden - Faux turf and plants for external 'balcony' area outside palliative care windows

Royal Melbourne Hospital Dry July Ambassador, Deane Reynolds, in the press :)

You can donate to Deane at https://www.dryjuly.com/users/deane-reynolds

Deane Reynolds from Kensington is the ambassador for the Royal Melbourne Hospital 2019 Dry July campaign.

Deane hadn’t really heard about head and neck cancer before. It all began when food started getting stuck in his throat as he ate his meals. His local doctor initially told him that it was reflux. After symptoms persisted, he was sent to a specialist, where he received the dreaded diagnosis of cancer.  

It was all a whirlwind at the beginning. He was given a 50 per cent chance of recovering. After long months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the weight of his prognosis left him wondering whether he would be able to get through it all. His greatest incentive was to keep going for his wife, Maxine.  

Deane continued doing what he loved most; gardening and cooking. In between rounds of chemotherapy, he tended to his garden, as well as his neighbours’. Deane could no longer eat, but he still cooked dinner for Maxine each night after she returned home from work.   

Deane was relieved when he finally received the news that the cancer had left his body. Most of all, he had missed eating and was over the moon to find that he had regained his taste. Now, he thoroughly enjoys his meals, as well as a good glass of red. Deane is a wine enthusiast and celebrated with a trip to the Barossa Valley with Maxine after he received the all clear. 

He was blown away by the talent, dedication and passion RMH staff show for their patients, which he says is the reason why he is still here today. Deane says he’s willing to stay off the booze just a little longer for Dry July, as a way of saying thank you to the wonderful surgeons, nurses and staff that cared for him. 

“I’m doing Dry July to thank the RMH for giving me a second bite out of the cherry of life.” 

The RMH 2019 Dry July goal is to raise $75,000 towards patient-care items and equipment for the head and neck cancer services and ward 7B. SIGN UP for Dry July and help ensure patients with cancer receive the best in care throughout their journeys of recovery. Alternatively, you can make a donation to RMH Dry July campaign HERE.