FUNDED - New laser for Townsville thanks to your donations

Generous donors have helped Brighter Lives fund a new burns laser to treat North Queensland children who have experienced burn injuries.

The local hospital foundation laser’s fundraiser, also known as the Laser Raiser, has fundraised $173,000 to purchase a Cutera V+ laser to treat North Queensland children.
Every year, around 200 children from across North Queensland present to the paediatric burns service at Townsville University Hospital. This service is the only one of its kind north of Brisbane and provides crucial care and support for injured children.

The laser will benefit kids like little Lucy. 

Lucy is a cheeky 4-year-old, full of spark and giggles, but she has had more than her fair share of time in hospital over her young life. Born with a large congenital nevus, a dark-coloured mole that covered a significant portion of her arm, Lucy’s family decided to have surgery to remove the mole, but surgery would carry the risk of significant scarring.

The Charters Towers family decided to forge ahead with the surgery and the area from Lucy’s new skin graft did cause some scarring. Now, thanks to donations from the North Queensland community to Brighter Lives, Lucy will be able to have treatment to help her scars from a new laser here in Townsville.

The new laser means that that Lucy will spend less in hospital, with the laser helping to reduce the visibility of her scars as well as improving the flexibility of her scarring as she does what 4 year olds do best – grow.

“We are so grateful that the laser is now here in Townsville. It means so much to our family to not have to travel outside of north Queensland and being able to continue treatment in Townsville,” Lucy’s mum, Linda said.

In 2019, Brighter Lives helped bring a CO2 fractional laser to Townsville. This state-of-the-art equipment, a first for Queensland, has been instrumental in treating burn patients without requiring skin grafts. Thanks to the support of our community, the local paediatric burns service led the way in this type of treatment, allowing young burn patients to spend more time at home, school, and play with their families instead of being confined to the hospital for extended periods.

The new dual wavelength laser will work in conjunction with the existing laser to improve scar flexibility and treat pigmented vascular skin lesions, resulting in less itchiness, pain, and scarring. The addition of the new laser will ensure that children from all over North Queensland continue to have access to cutting-edge treatment, keeping their care local and accessible.

“We are extremely grateful for the support of the local community, North Queensland businesses and groups in making this fundraiser a success,” Stephanie Naunton, CEO Brighter Lives said. “It is awful when any child is injured, but we are glad we can help improve their quality of life with the use of the new laser.”

The laser fundraiser was made possible thanks to generous donations from local businesses and organisations, as well as the foundation’s fundraising event, Not-A-Ball, last year.