From L-R Dr. Fiedler, Heidi O'Brien, Rumi O'Brien and Lachlan O'Brien.
Rumi O’Brien is the reason 21 local families will be spared the $96 cost of the hip dysplasia harness their newborn will need – just as she did, last year.
Commonly, this harness is worn for around three months to help treat dysplastic, subluxed or dislocated hips caused by the underdevelopment of hip joints. South West Healthcare (SWH) paediatrician Dr Christian Fiedler treats 10–15 children in this situation every year.
Heidi and Lachlan O’Brien say they knew very little about hip dysplasia before Rumi was diagnosed. Inspired by the medical care and compassion provided by Dr Fiedler and his team and acutely aware that, unlike them, some families would struggle to pay for the harness, the O’Briens decided to give back in Rumi’s name. Last November, Hike for Hips happened – a fundraising event where participants were sponsored to walk 50 kilometres over 30 days. They raised $2,000, which was enough to purchase 21 Pavlik harnesses for Dr Fiedler’s clinic.
‘This donation is a very kind and warm-hearted action that will help families cover the cost of the treatment,’ says Dr Fiedler.
The O’Briens are now planning their 2022 Hike for Hips fundraiser, Heidi’s working on producing a hip dysplasia information brochure for parents, and she and Lachlan continue to donate a percentage of the proceeds from their children’s clothing label, littleroo.thelabel to the cause as well.