When Kerbi Davis fell pregnant with her miracle baby boy Finn, less than a year after treatment for an aggressive form of breast cancer, Redcliffe Hospital was the only birthing centre she considered using.
Not only is Kerbi a Moreton Bay resident, but the Nurse Manager has also worked at the hospital since graduating a decade ago.
“Redcliffe Hospital feels like family now, and I have such good faith in our staff and our facilities,” said Kerbi.
“There was really no other decision to make.”
This Redcliffe Hospital Giving Day, Kerbi is giving back to the hospital she calls family, urging the community to support patient care initiatives and life-changing research.
Redcliffe Hospital Giving Day is the main event for Raise it for Redcliffe Hospital, a partnership between the RBWH Foundation and Redcliffe Hospital. Every donation received by Redcliffe Hospital Giving Day will be doubled by Giving Day Impact Partners, for twice the impact. Donate online at www.redcliffegivingday.com.au
“After experiencing the facilities at Redcliffe firsthand as a patient, I can attest that initiatives funded by the Raise it for Redcliffe team definitely enhance the patient experience when you are going through a vulnerable time.
“Just as I have witnessed from a staff member perspective, I have seen our rehabilitation and paediatric patients benefit from the resources and new space provided by this initiative.”
Until falling pregnant, however, Kerbi was unsure she would ever be able to have children.
In 2021, at just 28 years of age, she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of tumour with a faster growth rate, higher risk of secondary cancers and recurrence.
Kerbi chose to be treated within Metro North Health, the public health district in which Redcliffe Hospital sits. Kerbi’s oncologist placed her on ovarian suppression to try to preserve her fertility, but success could not be guaranteed.
“Chemotherapy attacks any rapidly growing cells, which places a woman’s fertility at risk,” said Kerbi.
“Ovarian suppression basically puts you into temporary menopause.”
Three months after Kerbi and her partner Troy were given the all-clear to try for a family, they discovered she was pregnant.
“When you are hit with a diagnosis like cancer in your twenties, your fertility is a major concern so to fall pregnant naturally really was a miracle.”
More incredible news when Finn was three months old. Kerbi’s two-year PET scan revealed she was still cancer-free.
“With our growing community on the peninsula, Redcliffe Hospital is definitely the heart of the community and it is really important to give back where we can.”
“More residents are using our resources more than ever, but it is still small enough to feel like a family.”
