Every time Dekkard Maynard has a seizure he could die.
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But with Maitland Hospital less than five minutes away from his Rutherford home, Dekkard has, so far, managed to survive.
A longer trip, however, could cost Dekkard his life.
Dekkard’s mother, Lisa Walters, has joined a community-led campaign calling for the existing Maitland Hospital to be retained when the new Lower Hunter hospital is built in Metford.
“A 10 or 15 minute trip to a hospital could mean life or death for Dekkard,” Ms Walters, 34, said.
“We can get him here to Maitland Hospital in less than five minutes for the treatment he needs, but if we had to make our way over to Metford he could die.”
Dekkard, 6, was diagnosed with the rare neurological condition lissencephaly – also known as smooth brain syndrome –when he was eight weeks old.
He’ll never walk or talk and his life expectancy is unknown.
“My message to our politicians is to keep Maitland Hospital open and keep it in public hands,” Ms Walters said.
“We just can’t afford to do without it.”
It’s been a week since the Facebook group Save Our Hospital Action Group hit social media with its pleas to keep the facility open in its current state.
Since then more than 2000 people have registered their support and a peaceful protest rally at the hospital has been planned for Thursday.
“The government’s decision to close down a vital hospital is ludicrous,” group founder Shane Anderson said.
“Maybe we do need a new hospital on the other side of town, but we need to retain this one as well.
“This is our hospital and it needs a voice, so we need to stand up and talk about it.”
The government has confirmed the High Street hospital would close and its existing health services would be transferred to the new site at Metford.
The Save Our Hospital Action Group rally will be held on Friday from 10am and 2pm.
