Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation’s (PCHF) annual Tax Appeal is raising funds for Kids Rehab WA, offering the chance to help WA children facing the heartbreaking task of relearning basic skills such as walking, standing, even sitting.
The transformative care of Kids Rehab WA at Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) supports children like Hailey Horton, who as a two year old had been happily dancing around the kitchen, when everything changed in a split second.
A pot of boiling water was accidentally knocked over onto the unsuspecting toddler, causing mostly third degree burns – the worst possible – to 37% of her body.
Hailey’s quick thinking parents rushed her into the shower and then to hospital by ambulance. But burns treatment was put on hold as Hailey’s condition deteriorated and she was placed on life support.
Tests revealed she was already suffering from serious viral infections, while later scans revealed damage to the area of the brain that controls movement. Hailey lost mobility, her lungs seized up and at one devastating point, it looked like her parents might have to let her go.
But they held on to hope and little by little Hailey began to fight back.
After a tracheotomy to help her breathe, skin graft surgeries and laser treatment for burns, Hailey’s ravaged little body began to heal. Thanks to the support and care of Kids Rehab WA, Hailey regained her strength and within a month she was talking, singing and eating again.
Hailey’s mother, Aimee Da Cunha was by her side during the three months she was in hospital wrapped in bandages.
“She just kept doing everything they said she wouldn’t do,” said Ms Da Cunha.
But lying in a hospital bed for weeks on end took its toll. With agonising burns to a large part of her body – her forehead, face, right arm, torso and leg – Hailey’s muscles began to waste away.
She lost basic movement and everything she’d accomplished – sitting, standing, walking – had to be learnt all over again.
A team of Kids Rehab WA therapists including physios, occupational and speech therapists and orthotics specialists helped Hailey take small steps to regain daily function.
“Rehab was life-changing, she’s back walking, dancing and jumping – without rehab she’d still be in a hospital bed not doing anything.”
While the journey was challenging, Hailey’s resilience and spirit shone through. At an age when other little girls were dressing up as fairies and ballerinas, Hailey bravely adapted to life wearing around-the-clock compression garments to control her scarring.
Instead of visiting playgrounds and parks, she worked on regaining her strength with the help of play-based physiotherapy exercises, specialised rehabilitation equipment and Botox injections.
The support was profoundly life-changing – Hailey went from sitting, to standing, to taking her first steps.
“Kids that need rehab are not going to just be magically fixed. It takes time, it takes work and all of that takes money.
“They need every dollar they can get because it’s not a simple fix.”
The PCHF Tax Appeal will fund Kids Rehab WA’s life-changing care making a difference to children with conditions such as cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Donations will help children just like Hailey, who at five, is now not only walking with an aid, but also back dancing with joy and enjoying being a kid again.
To make a tax-deductible donation to Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation by June 30 visit pchf.org.au/donate
Rediscovering joy, one step at a time. | PCHF Tax Appeal 2026
