FOR Jimmy Ryan, any chance to get outside the hospital hallways to run and play and explore is a welcome distraction from chemotherapy.
The two-year-old from Armidale was among the first children to enjoy the newly refurbished fairy garden at the John Hunter Children's Hospital on Thursday.
His father, David Ryan, said Jimmy was halfway through six months of chemotherapy after they found a cancerous lump in his groin about three months ago.
"We went to our local doctor and waited a month, then checked again and it had actually grown," Mr Ryan said. "We're from Armidale, so we had the experience then where the system kicked into gear and we got told to go home and pack our bags for an appointment at John Hunter Children's. The next morning, he had surgery."
Mr Ryan said the whole family had dropped everything to come down to Newcastle to be by Jimmy's side throughout his treatment. But he had been given a good prognosis, and they were hoping to fit in a quick visit home for Christmas.
Mr Ryan said the re-opening of the fairy garden was fantastic - especially for inpatients at the hospital.
"I think it's invaluable for the kids, and their parents, to have some space out of their rooms and out of the wards," he said.
Dr Paul Craven, of the John Hunter Children's Hospital, said children did not always understand why they needed to stay at hospital for so long.
"We have more than 10,000 admissions a year, and quite a number are here for an extended period," he said.
"Children who are being treated for cancer have an initial three-month admission, and other children here for trauma-related injuries can be here for 12 months-plus.
"There is a craving for the outside world, and outside the hospital itself isn't possible. So having an environment like this provides them an outlet to fresh air, and provides some normality."
The refurbished garden is a result of the generosity and the handiwork of GWH and their local suppliers and contractors.
"The fairy garden was quite run down, and had gotten beyond the capability of the volunteers that were looking after it," GWH director Grahame Chevalley said. "It was becoming unsafe as well. The previous design also didn't allow beds, so we have widened it so that beds can be wheeled in and turned around in here as well."
The labour-intensive refurbishment also involved installing a better drainage system to address the mosquito problem that had previously plagued the garden.
Had the hospital funded the project, it would have cost about $300,000.
"We just wanted to give back to the community because we can, and should."
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